The immune state of female athletes and its correlation with menstrual function and conditions of sports activities

To study the effects of exercise on circulating leukocytes and leukocyte subsets, physically active (n = 32) and sedentary (n = 32) male and female subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise or control condition. Exercise involved a continuous incremental protocol consisting of cycling for three periods of 6 min at power outputs corresponding to 55%, 70% and 85% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Blood samples were drawn from a venous catheter at baseline, and at 6 min, 12 min, and 18 min after beginning the exercise and 2 h following completion of exercise. Resting- and exercise-induced alterations in total leukocytes were independent of gender and subject fitness level. Relative to baseline, each increment in workload resulted in a rapid increase in the number of circulating leukocytes. Increases in neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes accounted for the exercise-induced leukocytosis. With regard to lymphocytes, exercise resulted in a significant increase in the number of T cells (CD3+), T helper cells (CD4+), T suppresser (CD8+) and natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-/CD16+/CD56+). The largest percentage increase occurred in the NK cell population. The CD4+: CD8+ ratio decreased (P < 0.001) throughout exercise due to a larger increase in the number of CD8+ cells relative to CD4+ cells. An exercise-induced neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, and eosinophelia was observed 2 h into recovery. Exercise resulted in significant increases in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels. There was no indication of a hypothalamic-pituitarty-adrenal response during exercise. The results indicate that the rapid, albeit transient, alteration in the number of circulating leukocytes during and following an acute progressive incremental exercise test are independent of gender and fitness.

show abstract

Exercise-induced alterations in natural killer cell number and function

Moyna

Acker

Weber

et al. 1996

Europ. J. Appl. Physiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To study the effects of exercise on natural killer (NK) cell number and activity (NKCA) healthy male (n = 32) and female (n = 32) subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise or control condition. Exercise involved a continuous incremental protocol consisting of cycling for three periods of 6 min at work rates corresponding to 55%, 70% and 85% peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Blood samples were drawn at baseline, at 6 min, 12 min and 18 min during exercise, and at 2 h following completion of exercise. Relative to both baseline and control conditions, exercise resulted in an increase in the number of circulating lymphocytes. The proportion of T cells (CD3+) and B cells (CD19+) significantly decreased, and NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+) increased throughout exercise. NKCA increased (P < 0.001) during the initial 6 min of exercise with no further changes observed, despite increases (P < 0.001) in the number and proportion of circulating NK cells during exercise at 70% and 85% VO2peak. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine increased (P < 0.001) above baseline at 12 min and 18 min. The changes in NK cell number and function were independent of gender. The results indicate that short-duration low-intensity exercise can significantly increase NK cell number and activity. However, alterations in NK cell number are not accompanied by changes of a similar magnitude in NKCA.

show abstract

The immune state of female athletes and its correlation with menstrual function and conditions of sports activities

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

Interaction of Immune, Interferon, and Opioid Systems in Professional Athletes

Interaction of Immune, Interferon, and Opioid Systems in Professional Athletes

The effects of incremental submaximal exercise on circulating leukocytes in physically active and sedentary males and females

Exercise-induced alterations in natural killer cell number and function

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About