Effects of Summer Camp Endurance Training on Non-Specific Immunity in Long-Distance Runners

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of endurance training during a 1-month summer camp on the non-specific host defence systems of ten highly trained male long-distance runners. Examinations with informed consent were carried out three times: 2 days before the training began, an intermediate day, and 2 days after the camp. The subjects ran a total of about 800 km during the camp. Neutrophilic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation determined by luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence and cytochrome c reduction methods was assayed at two time points because the camp was held far from our laboratory: neutrophils isolated 6 hours after blood sampling were examined at all three time points and neutrophils isolated immediately after blood sampling were examined before and after the camp. The ROS production indicated by peak height of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and peak velocity of cytochrome c reduction from neutrophils isolated 6 hours after blood sampling was suppressed after the camp (P < 0.05 for both), but, the ROS production from neutrophils isolated immediately after blood sampling and the serum opsonic activity appeared not to be affected. Neutrophils diminished their activity during the 6-hour waiting time after the camp. These results suggest that the non-specific host defence system is not directly impaired by long, strenuous endurance training.

Effects of 2.5‐hour sumo training on serum opsonic activity

“…Furthermore, the changes in LgCL and LmCL in SOA are different from the results of Sato's and Kumae's reports (13,30) and similar to the results of Saito's and Mochizuki's reports (28,29). The reason for this might be due to the difference in the exercise load or the subjects' physical condition.…”

“…Many studies have examined the relationship between neutrophil ROS production capability and exercise or short-and long-term training (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). However, only our studies have researched the changes in SOA following exercise or training (13,(28)(29)(30) and the results of these are summarized in Table 1. In general, this data has shown that exercise increases SOA.…”

Effects of summer training camp on serum opsonic activity and plasma cytokine levels in female long‐distance runners

“…A control opsonized zymosan (OZ) was prepared using pooled human serum obtained from health adults. [5] The pooled human neutrophils (60 μL, 6.0 × 10 4 cells) isolated from the healthy adults were placed in each well of a 96-well black microtiter plate (Greiner Japan Co.). A mixture of luminol (60 μL, 1 mmol/L), OZ (25 μL, 10 mg/mL) and HEPES-buffered saline (65 μL, pH 7.4) was simultaneously added into each well of the black microtiter plate using an automatic dispenser in a parallel luminometer (Alpha-Basic 47, Tokken Inc.).…”

“…[3] In a summer training camp, strenuous physical exercises are carried out to improve endurance ability. [4][5][6] Training fatigue is the normal result of several days of heavy training associated with an overload training stimulus. [3] Stress is defined as a state of disharmony provoked by a psychological, environmental or physiologic stressor.…”

“…On the other hand, less attention has been paid to non-specific immune reactions, although they make an important contribution to the immune system by their support of specific immune reactions. [5,8] Serum opsonic activity (SOA) is a more direct and suitable indicator of the strength of non-specific humoral immunity to infection. [9] SOA contributes to neutrophil activity through the acceleration of adhesion to opsonized substances and of engulfment of pathogens (phagocytosis) to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS).…”