Intense physical exercise increases systemic 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in healthy adult subjects

Abstract

Intense physical exercise activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis but little is known about changes in glucocorticoid sensitivity at the target cell level. No data are available on the acute effects of exercise on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) type 1 activity, which generates biologically active cortisol from inactive cortisone and is expressed also in skeletal muscle. Fifteen healthy, trained males (age mean +/- SE 28 +/- 1) were assessed on three non-consecutive days: at rest, during an endurance and strength sessions. During each session, between 1000 and 1600 hours, 6-h urine and four salivary samples were collected. Urinary total tetrahydrocortisol (THF) + alloTHF, tetrahydrocortisone (THE), cortisol (F) and cortisone (E) were measured with HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry; urinary-unconjugated F and E were measured by HPLC-UV. Salivary cortisol and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured by RIA and ELISA, respectively. Both endurance and strength exercises caused an increase in (THF + alloTHF)/THE ratio (mean +/- SE 1.90 +/- 0.07 and 1.82 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.63 +/- 0.06, P < 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively), consistent with increased systemic 11beta-HSD type 1 activity. No relationship was found with age, BMI, VO(2max) maximal power load or perceived exertion. No significant change was apparent in F/E ratio, an index of 11beta-HSD type 2 activity. No effect of exercise on salivary cortisol and IL-6 was observed, whereas a significant effect of sampling time was found. Intense physical exercise acutely increases systemic 11beta-HSD type 1 activity in humans. Such an increase may lead to higher cortisol concentration in target tissues, notably in skeletal muscle where it could contribute to limit exercise-induced muscle inflammatory response.

Activity of Salivary 11&lt;i&gt;β&lt;/i&gt;-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Becomes the Index for the Continuous Strength Exercise to Prevent Locomotive Syndrome in Japan

“…Both endurance and strength exercise caused an acute increase of urinary 11β-HSD1 activity not 11β-HSD2 activity in healthy trained males [9]. These results suggest that 11β-HSD1 is the index of endurance exercise.…”

“…These results suggested that salivary 11β-HDS2 became the index for the increase of muscular strength to prevent LS. Intense exercise increased 11β-HSD1 activity and cortisol content [9], where it could contribute to exercise-induced stress. Cortisol is said to be a stress hormone secreted from an adrenal cortex by stress.…”

Short-term whole body vibration exercise in adult healthy horses

“…The corticosteroid hormone action in peripheral tissue is partially determined through the activation of two iso-enzymes, which inter-convert hormonally active cortisol and inactive cortisone (Stewart et al 2001). During intense exercise there is an increased conversion of cortisone to cortisol through 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11β-HSD) activity (Dovio et al 2010) whereas low intensity exercise produces a reduction in blood cortisol levels (Davies and Few 1973). Factors, such as an exercise intensity dependent increase in GH concentrations might explain decreased cortisol values through a GH dependent inhibition of the isoenzyme 11β-HSD-1 (Elmantaser et al 2012).…”

“…Parameters such as cortisol, testosterone and growth hormone (GH) have a high attention due to their effects on muscle and bone (Kanter et al 1988, Dovio et al 2010. These hormones are furthermore used to determine the physiological stress (eustress) imposed during exercise sessions.…”

The ACTN3 genotype in soccer players in response to acute eccentric training

“…Taking into consideration that the peak of inXammation takes place between 2 and 4 h after the exercise (Pedersen et al 1998;Dovio et al 2010;Avloniti et al 2007) and that in the Brazilian soccer, principally at the beginning of the season, two to three sessions of training in one single day take place, with an average interval of 4 h, the athletes may not have enough time for an adequate recovery among training sessions.…”