Chronic Inflammation and Neutrophil Activation as Possible Causes of Joint Diseases in Ballet Dancers

Abstract

Herein, we investigated the effects of a ballet class on the kinetic profiles of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, cytokines, complement component 3 (C3), and the concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig), IgA and IgM, in ballerinas. We also verified neutrophil death and ROS release. Blood samples were taken from 13 dancers before, immediately after, and 18 hours after a ballet class. The ballet class increased the plasma activities of CK-total (2.0-fold) immediately after class, while the activities of CK-cardiac muscle (1.0-fold) and LDH (3.0-fold) were observed to increase 18 hours after the class. Levels of the TNF-α, IL-1β, IgG, and IgA were not affected under the study conditions. The exercise was found to induce neutrophil apoptosis (6.0-fold) 18 hours after the ballet class. Additionally, immediately after the ballet class, the neutrophils from the ballerinas were found to be less responsive to PMA stimulus. Conclusion. Ballet class was found to result in inflammation in dancers. The inflammation caused by the ballet class remained for 18 hours after the exercise. These findings are important in preventing the development of chronic lesions that are commonly observed in dancers, such as those with arthritis and synovitis.

Differential proteomics of the synovial membrane between bilateral and unilateral knee osteoarthritis in surgery-induced rabbit models

“…The authors suggested that due to degenerative remodeling occurring during the development of OA, these complexes become structurally and functionally impaired, resulting in increased access of exogenous ADP to mitochondria and dysfunction of the CK-phosphotransfer system. Borges et al (29) identified increased plasma activities of total CK (2.0-fold) in ballet dancers immediately after class, a finding that is significant in preventing the development of chronic conditions that are commonly observed in dancers, such as those with arthritis and synovitis.…”

Melatonin decreases muscular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by strenuous exercise and stimulates growth factor synthesis

“…A standard curve was constructed for each sample and cytokine set assayed, yielding correlation coefficients from 0.98 to 0.99. For these experiments, the intra‐assay coefficient of variance was 3–5%, while the interassay coefficient of variance was 8–10% .…”

Assessment of DNA damage in a group of professional dancers during a 10-month dancing season

“…The available literature on biomonitoring studies comprising professional dancers is limited, and the evaluation of genotoxic effects encompassing these professionals is even scarcer. Borges et al (2014) investigated the effect of chronic inflammation and neutrophil activation including neutrophils DNA fragmentation (an apoptosis biomarker) in 13 ballerinas from a ballet class. Blood samples were taken from dancers before, immediately after and 18 hr after class, a significant elevation was found in neutrophils DNA fragmentation 18 hr after class compared to pre-class and immediately after class, illustrating an impact of intense physical exercise on cytogenetic markers after a ballet class.…”

“…Although oxidative responses among different sport athletes were reported in several studies (Hadžović-Džuvo et al, 2014 ;Marin et al, 2013;Rowlands et al, 2012), only few studies measured DNA damage (Borges et al, 2014;Orhan et al, 2004). Borges et al (2014) investigated the effects of a ballet class in 13 ballerinas on DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry and found a significant increase 18 hr after ballet class. Orhan et al (2004) evaluated the effect of 60 min on a cycle ergometer in 18 trained males.…”

“…Ballet dancers often go beyond their limits due severe competition in Ballet Companies to maintain their positions (Byhring & Bo, 2002), and consequently, these individuals often overlook injuries (Bowling, 1989). Since there is some evidence that professional dancers are subject to oxidative stress with accompanied DNA damage under acute conditions (Borges et al, 2014;Orhan et al, 2004), it was of interest to determine the consequences of prolonged physical exercise on several genotoxicity biomarkers in a group of ballet dancers. In order to assess the effect of exercise on DNA damage among professional dancers, the alkaline version of the comet assay was employed in a group of professional dancers from a Portuguese Ballet Company to quantify DNA damage and oxidized purines (FPG sensitive-sites) at individual cell level, before and after a 10-month dancing season.…”