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Relationship between immune function of red blood cells and physical exercise
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Type
Thesis
Author
Hu, Qichen
Supervisor
Schmidt, Gordon James
Chia, Michael
Moochhala, Shabbir
Abstract
Red blood cells have an immune function as well as a respiratory one. One of the main and important immune functions of red blood cells is immune adherence, red blood cells binding to antigen-antibody-complement complexes through complement receptor type 1 (CR1) on their surfaces. It is well known that physical exercise induces changes in the immune function of the body. Although some studies have reported physical exercise results in changes in the immune function of red blood cells, knowledge in this area is still superficial.
The present study aimed to (i) examine the effect of training status on red blood cell immune function, (ii) to investigate the effects of different treadmill exercise on red blood cell immune function, and (iii) to determine the factors associated with the changes in red blood cell immune function in physical exercise, including white blood cell immune function, concentrations of plasma lactate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol.
Fifteen endurance athletes and 15 sedentary males participated in the research. All participants underwent five exercise tests on the same treadmill: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test, exercise at 40% VO2max for 30 minutes, 80% VO2max for 30 minutes, 80% VO2max for 60 minutes and downhill running (-10% gradient) at 60% VO2max for 30 minutes. There was an interval of five to seven days between each exercise session.
Before every exercise test and immediately after, one hour, two hours, and 24 hours after each exercise test, blood samples were drawn from the cubitus vein of the participants. The activities of complement receptors on red blood cells, granulocytes and lymphocytes, concentrations of plasma cortisol, ACTH, epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined. Plasma lactate concentrations (before exercise and five minutes after each exercise) were measured.
The results of the present study showed that before the exercise tests, resting activity of red blood cell CR1 (immune adherence) in the trained group were not different from the same activity in the untrained group. However, the decline in number of erythrocyte-tumor cell rosette (ETCR) formation after the five exercise tests were greater in the untrained group compared to the values in the trained group. The slower recovery of immune adherence of red blood cells after the exercise also occurred in the untrained participants.
All five exercise tests induced significant decreases in ETCR in the trained and the untrained participants. However, greater declines in ETCR were obtained after the exercise at maximal intensity (VO2max test), 80% VO2max for 30 minutes and for 60 minutes. Although the change in ETCR immediately after the downhill running at 60% VO2max for 30 minutes was smaller than immediately after the uphill running at maximal oxygen uptake, 80% VO2max for 30 minutes and for 60 minutes, the suppression in ETCR was greater at 24 hours after the downhill running compared to the values at the same time point after the other exercise tests. Similar results were observed for the activities of complement receptors on granulocytes and lymphocytes at rest and after the exercise tests.
Positive correlations were established in the present study between ETCR and number of granulocyte-tumor cell rosette (GTCR) formation, as well as between ETCR and number of lymphocyte-tumor cell rosette (LTCR) formation (r = .37 to .78 and r = .31 to .66, respectively, p < .05). Higher correlations were found after the exercise at 80% VO2max for 60 minutes. Lower correlations were observed after the exercise at 40% VO2max for 30 minutes.
In addition, a negative correlation between plasma lactate concentration and ETCR was observed in the study (r = -.58, p < .05).
The results of the study also showed that plasma stress hormone concentrations negatively correlated with the activity of red blood cell CR1. After the different exercise tests, the correlations were r = -.38 to -.73 (p < .05) between plasma cortisol concentrations and ETCR, r = -.31 to -.45 (p < .05) between plasma ACTH concentrations and ETCR, r = -.33 to -.50 (p < .05) between epinephrine concentrations and ETCR, and r = -.31 to -.46 (p < .05) between norepinephrine concentrations and ETCR.
The results of the present study indicated that the immune adherence of red blood cells was not affected by training status, but was diminished by acute exercise. The suppression and recovery of the immune function of red blood cells were associated with intensity, duration and mode of exercise. In addition, the greater suppression and slower recovery occurred in the untrained participants.
The present study also showed that the change in the activity of red blood cell CR1 in physical exercise was related to the activity of complement receptors on granulocytes and lymphocytes and plasma lactate concentration. Exercise-induced release of the hormones from the sympathoadrenal system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH and cortisol, could be mediators of exercise-induced change in red blood cell immune function.
The present study aimed to (i) examine the effect of training status on red blood cell immune function, (ii) to investigate the effects of different treadmill exercise on red blood cell immune function, and (iii) to determine the factors associated with the changes in red blood cell immune function in physical exercise, including white blood cell immune function, concentrations of plasma lactate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol.
Fifteen endurance athletes and 15 sedentary males participated in the research. All participants underwent five exercise tests on the same treadmill: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test, exercise at 40% VO2max for 30 minutes, 80% VO2max for 30 minutes, 80% VO2max for 60 minutes and downhill running (-10% gradient) at 60% VO2max for 30 minutes. There was an interval of five to seven days between each exercise session.
Before every exercise test and immediately after, one hour, two hours, and 24 hours after each exercise test, blood samples were drawn from the cubitus vein of the participants. The activities of complement receptors on red blood cells, granulocytes and lymphocytes, concentrations of plasma cortisol, ACTH, epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined. Plasma lactate concentrations (before exercise and five minutes after each exercise) were measured.
The results of the present study showed that before the exercise tests, resting activity of red blood cell CR1 (immune adherence) in the trained group were not different from the same activity in the untrained group. However, the decline in number of erythrocyte-tumor cell rosette (ETCR) formation after the five exercise tests were greater in the untrained group compared to the values in the trained group. The slower recovery of immune adherence of red blood cells after the exercise also occurred in the untrained participants.
All five exercise tests induced significant decreases in ETCR in the trained and the untrained participants. However, greater declines in ETCR were obtained after the exercise at maximal intensity (VO2max test), 80% VO2max for 30 minutes and for 60 minutes. Although the change in ETCR immediately after the downhill running at 60% VO2max for 30 minutes was smaller than immediately after the uphill running at maximal oxygen uptake, 80% VO2max for 30 minutes and for 60 minutes, the suppression in ETCR was greater at 24 hours after the downhill running compared to the values at the same time point after the other exercise tests. Similar results were observed for the activities of complement receptors on granulocytes and lymphocytes at rest and after the exercise tests.
Positive correlations were established in the present study between ETCR and number of granulocyte-tumor cell rosette (GTCR) formation, as well as between ETCR and number of lymphocyte-tumor cell rosette (LTCR) formation (r = .37 to .78 and r = .31 to .66, respectively, p < .05). Higher correlations were found after the exercise at 80% VO2max for 60 minutes. Lower correlations were observed after the exercise at 40% VO2max for 30 minutes.
In addition, a negative correlation between plasma lactate concentration and ETCR was observed in the study (r = -.58, p < .05).
The results of the study also showed that plasma stress hormone concentrations negatively correlated with the activity of red blood cell CR1. After the different exercise tests, the correlations were r = -.38 to -.73 (p < .05) between plasma cortisol concentrations and ETCR, r = -.31 to -.45 (p < .05) between plasma ACTH concentrations and ETCR, r = -.33 to -.50 (p < .05) between epinephrine concentrations and ETCR, and r = -.31 to -.46 (p < .05) between norepinephrine concentrations and ETCR.
The results of the present study indicated that the immune adherence of red blood cells was not affected by training status, but was diminished by acute exercise. The suppression and recovery of the immune function of red blood cells were associated with intensity, duration and mode of exercise. In addition, the greater suppression and slower recovery occurred in the untrained participants.
The present study also showed that the change in the activity of red blood cell CR1 in physical exercise was related to the activity of complement receptors on granulocytes and lymphocytes and plasma lactate concentration. Exercise-induced release of the hormones from the sympathoadrenal system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH and cortisol, could be mediators of exercise-induced change in red blood cell immune function.
Date Issued
2004
Call Number
QP301 Hu
Date Submitted
2004