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Effects of moderate endurance exercise and training on in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, and IL-2 receptor expression

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Abstract

This study was designed to examine immunological responses to an acute bout of cycle ergometry exercise before and after moderate endurance training. Previously sedentary males were randomly assigned to matched training (n=9) or control (n=6) groups. Training comprised 12 weeks during which supervised cycle ergometer exercise took place [30 min at 65–70% of maximal oxygen intake\((\dot VO_{2max} )\), 4–5 days · week−1]. An acute bout of exercise (60 min; 60%\(\dot VO_{2max} \) was performed initially and after the 12-week interval. Samples of peripheral venous blood were taken at rest, after 30 and 60 min of exercise, and at 30 and 120 min post-exercise. Training improved\(\dot VO_{2max} \) by an average of 20% (40.6 to 49.2 ml · kg−1 · min−1). Relative to baseline and control measures, the resting concentration of (CD3-CD16+/CD56+) natural killer (NK) cells increased by 22% (P<0.05). The resting count of total CD25+ [interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) α chain] lymphocytes did not change following training, but dual staining analysis showed a 100% increase in the fraction of CD16+ CD25+ NK cells (P < 0.05). Likewise the resting CD122+ (IL-2Rβ chain) lymphocyte count increased 35% after training, the greatest increases (44%) being in CD16+ CD122+ NK cells (P<0.05). Soluble IL-2R levels also increased 33% (P< 0.05) after training. Following acute exercise at the same relative intensity; trained individuals exhibited a larger increase in the NK cell count, reduced lymphocytopenia, and attenuation of exercise-induced suppression of lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 production (P<0.05). In addition, smaller increases in CD4 and CD8 counts during exercise were noted, but with faster recovery post-exercise (P<0.05). Addition of recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) to phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures did not reverse exercise-induced suppression of cell proliferation, either before or after training. However, rIL-2 did augment the spontaneous blastogenesis of exercise and post-training samples relative to baseline (P < 0.05). We conclude that moderate endurance training is associated with sustained alterations in immune function, both at rest and when exercising. Further investigations are necessary to determine the impact on overall health and susceptibility to disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Department of Community Health, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Shawn G. Rhind, Pang N. Shek & Roy J. Shephard

  2. Operational Medicine Division, Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, M3M 3B9, North York, Ontario, Canada

    Shawn G. Rhind, Pang N. Shek & Roy J. Shephard

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Pang N. Shek

  4. Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu-cho, Onsen-gun, 791-02, Ehime, Japan

    Shoji Shinkai

  5. School of Physical and Health Education, University of Toronto, M5S 1A1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Roy J. Shephard

  6. CTAL Resident Scholar, Health Studies Programme, Brock University, L2S 3A1, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

    Roy J. Shephard

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  1. Shawn G. Rhind
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Rhind, S.G., Shek, P.N., Shinkai, S. et al. Effects of moderate endurance exercise and training on in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, and IL-2 receptor expression. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 74, 348–360 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226932

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