132
Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise* K.-H. Ricken, T. Rieder, G. Hauck and W. Kinder,nann Department of Sports and Performance Medicine (Head: Prof. Dr. W. Kindermann), University of Saarland, SaarbrOcken, FRG
K.-H. Ricken, T. Rieder, G. Hauck and W. Kindermann, Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise. mt j Sports Med, Vol 11, No 2, pp 132—135, 1990.
Accepted after revision: August 2, 1989
In order to assess the changes in the cellular immune system, 27 healthy male subjects were selected who
participate in leisure-time sports and in whom measurements of the lymphocyte subsets in venous blood were carried out before and after a standardized endurance exercise test (E I, 60 minutes in length, intensity: 63% of maximum performance). The percentages of the following parameters were measured: total T-lymphocytes , B-lymphocytes and 0-lymphocytes as well as T4-lymphocytes (helper T-lym-
phocytes, CD4 +) and T8-lymphocytes (cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes, CD8 +). In a subgroup consisting
of 8 subjects, the parameters indicated above were
measured again 24 hours following E. In order to check the reproducibility of the findings, the endurance exercise test was repeated 2 1/2 weeks later(E II).
Introduction There is some evidence that highly trained athletes have an enhanced susceptibility to various infectious diseases (12, 14, 17, 19,24). However, some findings indicate that long-term physical conditioning may improve the immune response (7, 23). The findings of previous studies regarding the changes in various parameters of the immune system as a function of acute physical exercise are in part controversial (1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 22,25,26). Only few investigations for pro-
longed exercise under standardized laboratory conditions with repeated measurements of immunological parameters during the recovery phase have been published (16).
In the present study the influence of standardized prolonged exercise on quantitative changes in lymphocytes and in T-lymphocyte subpopulations in particular
Tnt. J. Sports Med. 11(1990)132—135 GeorgThieme Verlag Stuttgart. New York
At the end of E, the T-lymphozytes had decreased significantly in comparison to the initial value, whereas 0-lymphocytes increased by the same amount. In addition, helper T-lymphocytes were decreased and cytotoxic/suppressor cells were increased significantly. All changes had been reversed 24 hours following E. Between E
I and E II there was no difference with respect to the changes in lymphocytes and their subpopulations.
The data suggest that acute prolonged exercise influences the cellular immune system. The question as to the degree to which these immunological changes can be equated with a suppression of the cellular immune system and cause and enhanced susceptibility to infections in highperformance athletes cannot be conclusively answered on the basis of the present data. Key words
Lymphocyte subsets, cellular immune system, prolonged exercise, immunosurveillance
were investigated. In view of the fact that the conflicting results
of previous studies are apparently partially attributable to external influence factors, the same exercise was repeated just less than three weeks later with the same parameters being
measured to examine the reproducibility of the results. In order to assess the reversibility of the changes, the same par-
ameters were measured again in a subgroup 24 hours subsequent to the exercise test.
Material and Methods
Twenty-seven healthy, male subjects who engage in physical conditioning on a regular basis (age 26 4 years; heigth 180 4 cm; weight 73 7 kg; performance capacity in Table 1) took part in the study. The study procedure was explained to all of the subjects, to which they gave their written consent before taking part in it.
* This project was supported by grants from the Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (project VF 0407/01/06/88 and VF 0407/01/09/89).
Downloaded by: University of British Columbia. Copyrighted material.
Abstract
mt. J. Sports Med. 11(1990) 133
Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise Table I Performance as well as heart rate and lactate concentration of all subjects. MAX: maximum values; IAT: values at the individual anaerobic threshold
701
Heart rate Lactate
Power output Oxygen uptake MAX IAT
[%)
(watt)
(ml . min kg) (min1)
(mmoi . I_i)
305±39 192±33
53±6 34±6
184± 11
9.6± 1.9
151±13
2.7±0.5
60
50 +
before exercise 70
i
60
otter exercise 30
20
r—**—i ++) 30
20
10
exercise
Lij I
II
T-Lymphocytes
Il ll I
II
B- Lymphocytes
I
II
10
0
before after 24h
before after 24h
before offer 21.h
after
offer
offer
T- Lymphocytes
B-Lymphocyfes
0-Lymphocytes
Fig. 2 Percentage of lymphocyte populations before, immediately after and 24 hours after a 60-minute endurance exercise test. Statistics: + p < 0.05.
0- Lymphocytes
Fig. 1 Percentage of lymphocyte populations before and after two 60-minute endurance exercise tests (El and Eli). Statistics: +
p
Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise* K.-H. Ricken, T. Rieder, G. Hauck and W. Kinder,nann Department of Sports and Performance Medicine (Head: Prof. Dr. W. Kindermann), University of Saarland, SaarbrOcken, FRG
K.-H. Ricken, T. Rieder, G. Hauck and W. Kindermann, Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise. mt j Sports Med, Vol 11, No 2, pp 132—135, 1990.
Accepted after revision: August 2, 1989
In order to assess the changes in the cellular immune system, 27 healthy male subjects were selected who
participate in leisure-time sports and in whom measurements of the lymphocyte subsets in venous blood were carried out before and after a standardized endurance exercise test (E I, 60 minutes in length, intensity: 63% of maximum performance). The percentages of the following parameters were measured: total T-lymphocytes , B-lymphocytes and 0-lymphocytes as well as T4-lymphocytes (helper T-lym-
phocytes, CD4 +) and T8-lymphocytes (cytotoxic/suppressor T-lymphocytes, CD8 +). In a subgroup consisting
of 8 subjects, the parameters indicated above were
measured again 24 hours following E. In order to check the reproducibility of the findings, the endurance exercise test was repeated 2 1/2 weeks later(E II).
Introduction There is some evidence that highly trained athletes have an enhanced susceptibility to various infectious diseases (12, 14, 17, 19,24). However, some findings indicate that long-term physical conditioning may improve the immune response (7, 23). The findings of previous studies regarding the changes in various parameters of the immune system as a function of acute physical exercise are in part controversial (1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 20, 22,25,26). Only few investigations for pro-
longed exercise under standardized laboratory conditions with repeated measurements of immunological parameters during the recovery phase have been published (16).
In the present study the influence of standardized prolonged exercise on quantitative changes in lymphocytes and in T-lymphocyte subpopulations in particular
Tnt. J. Sports Med. 11(1990)132—135 GeorgThieme Verlag Stuttgart. New York
At the end of E, the T-lymphozytes had decreased significantly in comparison to the initial value, whereas 0-lymphocytes increased by the same amount. In addition, helper T-lymphocytes were decreased and cytotoxic/suppressor cells were increased significantly. All changes had been reversed 24 hours following E. Between E
I and E II there was no difference with respect to the changes in lymphocytes and their subpopulations.
The data suggest that acute prolonged exercise influences the cellular immune system. The question as to the degree to which these immunological changes can be equated with a suppression of the cellular immune system and cause and enhanced susceptibility to infections in highperformance athletes cannot be conclusively answered on the basis of the present data. Key words
Lymphocyte subsets, cellular immune system, prolonged exercise, immunosurveillance
were investigated. In view of the fact that the conflicting results
of previous studies are apparently partially attributable to external influence factors, the same exercise was repeated just less than three weeks later with the same parameters being
measured to examine the reproducibility of the results. In order to assess the reversibility of the changes, the same par-
ameters were measured again in a subgroup 24 hours subsequent to the exercise test.
Material and Methods
Twenty-seven healthy, male subjects who engage in physical conditioning on a regular basis (age 26 4 years; heigth 180 4 cm; weight 73 7 kg; performance capacity in Table 1) took part in the study. The study procedure was explained to all of the subjects, to which they gave their written consent before taking part in it.
* This project was supported by grants from the Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (project VF 0407/01/06/88 and VF 0407/01/09/89).
Downloaded by: University of British Columbia. Copyrighted material.
Abstract
mt. J. Sports Med. 11(1990) 133
Changes in Lymphocyte Subpopulations After Prolonged Exercise Table I Performance as well as heart rate and lactate concentration of all subjects. MAX: maximum values; IAT: values at the individual anaerobic threshold
701
Heart rate Lactate
Power output Oxygen uptake MAX IAT
[%)
(watt)
(ml . min kg) (min1)
(mmoi . I_i)
305±39 192±33
53±6 34±6
184± 11
9.6± 1.9
151±13
2.7±0.5
60
50 +
before exercise 70
i
60
otter exercise 30
20
r—**—i ++) 30
20
10
exercise
Lij I
II
T-Lymphocytes
Il ll I
II
B- Lymphocytes
I
II
10
0
before after 24h
before after 24h
before offer 21.h
after
offer
offer
T- Lymphocytes
B-Lymphocyfes
0-Lymphocytes
Fig. 2 Percentage of lymphocyte populations before, immediately after and 24 hours after a 60-minute endurance exercise test. Statistics: + p < 0.05.
0- Lymphocytes
Fig. 1 Percentage of lymphocyte populations before and after two 60-minute endurance exercise tests (El and Eli). Statistics: +
p
