Regular article
Enhanced release of cytokines, interleukin-2 receptors, and neopterin after long-distance running

https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-1229(92)90012-DGet rights and content

Abstract

This study was designed to examine cytokine production in a group of 22 well-trained runners covering a distance of 20 km within 2 hr. After running, all participants displayed a marked granulocytosis for 7 hr. Plasma neopterin levels increased 1 hr after exercise for 24 hr. Except for interleukin-6 (IL-6), cytokines were not reliably detected in plasma but were present in urine. Already before exercise, cytokines were detected in the urine of runners when compared to sedentary controls. Directly after running, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α were further elevated but rapidly declined to preexercise levels. Interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 increased at a slower rate after exercise but secretion into urine persisted longer until 12 and 7 hr, respectively. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was not detected but soluble IL-2 receptors appeared in the urine directly after running. Enhanced cytokine levels were accompanied by an only low creatinin kinase increase, indicating little muscle damage. These data show that long-distance running elevates cytokine production which supports the concept that regular, but not excessive, physical exercise may be beneficial by maintaining a stimulated immune system.

References (41)

  • L. Fitzgerald

    Exercise and the immune system

    Immunol. Today

    (1988)
  • J.J. Oppenheim et al.

    There is more than one interleukin 1

    Immunol. Today

    (1986)
  • D.N. Männel

    Biological aspects of tumor necrosis factor

    Immunobiology

    (1986)
  • T. Hirano et al.

    Biological and clinical aspects of interleukin 6

    Immunol. Today

    (1990)
  • P.G. Hanson et al.

    Immunological responses to training in conditioned runners

    Clin. Sci.

    (1981)
  • A.D. Kanonchoff et al.

    Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations during acute exercise

    Med. Sci. Sports Exercise

    (1984)
  • Z. Brahmi et al.

    The effect of acute exercise on natural killer cell activity of trained and sedentary human subjects

    J. Clin. Immunol.

    (1985)
  • A.J. Edwards et al.

    Changes in populations of lymphoid cells in human peripheral blood following physical exercise

    Clin. Exp. Immunol.

    (1984)
  • R.L. Green et al.

    Immune function in marathon runners

    Ann. Allergy

    (1981)
  • J.G. Cannon et al.

    Endogenous pyrogen activity in human plasma after exercise

    Science

    (1983)
  • A. Viti et al.

    Effect of exercise on plasma interferon levels

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1985)
  • W.J. Evans et al.

    Metabolic changes following eccentric exercise in trained and untrained men

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1986)
  • J.G. Cannon et al.

    Physiological mechanisms contributing to increased interleukin-1 secretion

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1986)
  • J.G. Cannon et al.

    Increased interleukin 1β in human skeletal muscle after exercise

    Am. J. Physiol.

    (1989)
  • H. Northoff et al.

    Increased levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and/or IL-7 in sera of long-distance runners

  • B. Dufaux et al.

    Plasma elastase-α1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor after prolonged exercise

    Int. J. Sports Med.

    (1989)
  • G.T. Espersen et al.

    Effect of physical exercise on cytokines and lymphocyte subpopulations in human peripheral blood

    APMIS

    (1990)
  • H. Greiling et al.
  • M.F. Lopes-Virella et al.

    Cholesterol determination in high-density lipoproteins separated by three different methods

    Clin. Chem.

    (1977)
  • M. Nain et al.

    Tumor necrosis factor-α production of influenza A virus-infected macrophages and potentiating effect of lipopolysaccharides

    J. Immunol.

    (1990)
  • Cited by (190)

    • Pterins as diagnostic markers of exercise-induced stress: a systematic review

      2020, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
      Citation Excerpt :

      Neopterin was measured in plasma (n = 5), serum (n = 4) and urine (n = 2, one study measured plasma and urine neopterin) from predominantly highly trained individuals. The response of neopterin was measured prior to and following long distance running events spanning from 20 km under two hours26 to ultramarathons (67 km) at moderate altitude.27 Independent of bio-fluid, neopterin significantly increased in response to running in eight of the nine studies.

    • A single exercise bout augments adenovirus-specific T-cell mobilization and function

      2018, Physiology and Behavior
      Citation Excerpt :

      Further, we found that the number of AdV-specific T-cells generated relative to the number of AdV-specific T-cells added to the cultures on Day 0 (total generated VSTs/input VSTs) was actually elevated in the post-exercise exercise condition. Spielmann et al. [27] observed the same phenomenon in the expansion of CMV- and EBV-specific cells following exercise and proposed multiple mechanisms by which exercise may augment VST expansion on a per-cell basis, including downregulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and increases in plasma sIL2R and STAT5 phosphorylation [27,50–52]. In addition, the expression of markers of T-cell activation, such as CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR, are elevated post-exercise, and the secretion of various cytokines, including IL-2, IFN-γ, and IL-4, are altered in vivo and in response to mitogenic and antigenic stimulation following acute exercise [20,26,53].

    • Physical activity and autoimmune diseases: Get moving and manage the disease

      2018, Autoimmunity Reviews
      Citation Excerpt :

      Other reports revealed that aerobic exercise results in an increase in the microbicide capacity of macrophages and therefore increases the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile released including for example IFN-γ and TNF-α [42]. Research suggests that, due to physical activity, IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine and anti-inflammatory myokine, increases to as much as 100-fold in blood sera when compared to baseline [43–45]. Acting as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6 promotes the proliferation and activation of T-cells and the differentiation of B-cells into antibody-producing plasma cells.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text