Exercise and blood lymphocyte subset responses: intensity, duration, and subject fitness effects

Abstract

This study examined the effect of exercise intensity and duration on the percent blood lymphocytes in men of low [LF; maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) less than 50 ml.kg-1.min-1 and sedentary], moderate (MF; VO2max = 50-60 ml.kg-1.min-1 and recreationally active), and high (HF; VO2max greater than 60 ml.kg-1.min-1 and recent training history) fitness. Thirty healthy adult men (aged 20-31 yr) participated in four randomly ordered cycle ergometer rides: ride 1 (65% VO2max, 30 min), ride 2 (30% VO2max, 60 min), ride 3 (75% VO2max, 60 min), and ride 4 (65% VO2max, 120 min). Blood samples were drawn at various times before and after the exercise sessions. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies for total T (CD3+), T-helper (CD4+), and T-suppressor (CD8+) lymphocytes and for a subset of cells expressing a natural killer (NK) cell antigen (Leu7+). Plasma catecholamines were assayed to determine exercise stress. There were sharp reductions (P less than 0.01) in the percentage of pan-T and T-helper lymphocytes immediately after exercise across all fitness levels; the magnitude of this reduction was greatest after the highest intensity (ride 3) or longest duration (ride 4) work. In contrast, the absolute number of T and T-helper cells tended to increase after exercise and significantly so in the HF subjects (P less than 0.005). There was no significant effect of exercise or subject fitness category on the percentage of T-suppressor lymphocytes, although the absolute numbers of this subset increased significantly after exercise in LF subjects. Marked increases (P less than 0.01) in the percentage of NK cells occurred immediately after exercise at all intensities and durations tested; numerical increases in total NK cells were significant in all fitness groups after the highest intensity work (ride 3; P less than 0.005). Irrespective of whether the changes were expressed as percentage or total numbers, recovery to base line occurred at 30 min after exercise. The results suggest that the exercise effect on blood lymphocyte subset percentages in men is transient and occurs across all fitness levels. Concomitant changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations are only weakly associated with these lymphocyte subset percentage responses to exercise. Furthermore, this study shows that the exercise-induced changes in lymphocyte percentages do not consistently reflect changes in the absolute numbers of cells.

Impact of Acute Intermittent Exercise on Natural Killer Cells in Breast Cancer Survivors

“…[7][8][9][10][11] Previous studies that have examined changes in NK cell counts in response to moderate-intensity and moderate-duration aerobic exercise in healthy men and women of various ages and fitness levels have reported similar results. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Additionally, Maisel et al 39 examined the effect of an acute bout of treadmill exercise to exhaustion on circulating lymphocyte subpopulations in congestive heart failure patients (another clinical population that often presents with low aerobic fitness) and matched healthy controls, finding that NK cell counts increased immediately postexercise in both groups, with magnitudes similar to those observed in the current study.…”

Maximal exercise increases mucosal associated invariant T cell frequency and number in healthy young men

“…Total GXT duration was relatively constant, which likely precluded our ability to observe a relationship. VO 2peak not being associated with MAIT cell responses supports older work where T cells responses occurred independent of fitness level (Kendall et al 1990), although higher fitness levels attenuate T cell responses to submaximal exercise (Hong et al 2005). Under the current conditions, GXT duration, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition did not influence the MAIT cell exercise response and may require values to be outside normal ranges before effects are seen.…”

Horário do dia, luminosidade ambiental e exercício físico sobre parâmetros inflamatórios e de performance em ratos nadadores

“…Em estudos envolvendo o modelo Humano, a intensidade de esforço, duração e condição física do indivíduo avaliado são importantes nessas respostas (STRASNER et al, 1997;GLEESON et al, 1995;KENDALL et al, 1990), sendo o aumento das contagens de células brancas mais pronunciado em exercícios de longa duração devido a importante participação do cortisol (PEDERSEN et al, 1997;PEDERSEN, 1999). Porém, nosso estudo aponta que as contagens de Leuc, Linf e Mono aumentaram significativamente devido à exaustão durante o exercício proposto em ratos, independentemente da duração, como citado acima.…”