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Lymphocyte apoptosis after exhaustive and moderate exercise
F C Mooren1, D Blöming, A Lechtermann
1Department of Sports Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Germany. mooren@uni-muenster.de
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|June 19, 2002
Summary
Exhaustive exercise significantly increased apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in lymphocytes, impacting immune response regulation. Moderate exercise did not show this effect, suggesting exercise intensity is key to immune cell changes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is crucial for immune response regulation.
- Postexercise lymphocytopenia suggests exercise alters immune cell populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of apoptosis in exercise-induced immune system alterations.
- To compare the effects of exhaustive versus moderate exercise on lymphocyte apoptosis.
Main Methods:
- Healthy volunteers underwent exhaustive and moderate treadmill exercise tests.
- Blood samples were analyzed for apoptotic and necrotic lymphocytes using annexin V and propidium iodide.
- CD95-receptor and CD95-receptor ligand expression on lymphocytes were measured.
Main Results:
- Apoptotic cells significantly increased immediately after exhaustive exercise, but not moderate exercise.
- Lymphocyte apoptosis increased after incubation with camptothecin, but not phytohemagglutinin, following exercise.
- CD95-receptor expression was upregulated after both exercise types, with a notable shift in profile after exhaustive exercise.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis may contribute to immune response regulation following exhaustive exercise.
- The precise beneficial or harmful implications of exercise-induced apoptosis require further investigation.