Abstract

Background: Cell adhesion molecules are proteins expressed on the surface of a variety of cells and mediate the leucocyte response to inflammation. Some of these molecules are released to the plasma as soluble forms, whose presence indicates the degree of vascular endothelial activation or dysfunction. Increased concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules are thought to hamper the immune response and mediate the atherosclerotic inflammatory process. Studies on the effect of exercise on the concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules have almost exclusively used aerobic exercise.

Aim: To assess the effect of resistance exercise on the serum concentrations of five cell adhesion molecules during and immediately after 30 min of exercise in lean and obese participants.

Methods: Fourteen healthy young men (eight lean and six obese) performed 3 sets of 10 resistance exercises with 10–12 repetitions at 70–75% of one repetition maximum in a circuit training fashion. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline and at the end of the first, second and third sets. The serum concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, P-selectin and L-selectin were measured in a biochip array analyser.

Results: No significant changes were observed in the concentrations of these cell adhesion molecules during exercise, or between lean and obese participants.

Conclusion: Our data indicate that resistance exercise of moderate to high intensity does not affect the serum concentrations of cell adhesion molecules in healthy young lean or obese men, suggesting no considerable negative effect on immune function.