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Related Experiment Videos

Interleukin-6 release from the human brain during prolonged exercise.

Lars Nybo1, Bodil Nielsen, Bente Klarlund Pedersen

  • 1Department of Human Physiology, Institute of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. lnnielsen@aki.ku.dk

The Journal of Physiology
|August 3, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is released from the brain during prolonged exercise in humans. The duration of exercise, not increased body temperature, appears to drive this cerebral IL-6 response.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine with diverse physiological roles, including in the central nervous system.
  • Exercise significantly increases circulating IL-6, partly from skeletal muscle, potentially linking to central fatigue and hyperthermia.
  • Exercise-induced IL-6 may also stimulate hepatic glycogenolysis, crucial for sustained physical activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cerebral response of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) during prolonged exercise in humans.
  • To determine if hyperthermia influences IL-6 release from the brain during exercise.

Main Methods:

  • Eight young males completed two 60-minute exercise bouts in a randomized order, with either normal (38°C) or elevated (39.5°C) core temperature.

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  • Cerebral IL-6 response was assessed by measuring IL-6 differences between internal jugular venous and arterial blood, alongside global cerebral blood flow.
  • Measurements were taken at rest, after 15 minutes, and after 60 minutes of exercise.

    • Main Results:

    • No net brain IL-6 release or uptake was observed at rest or after 15 minutes of exercise.
    • A small IL-6 release from the brain occurred after 60 minutes of the first exercise bout (0.06 ± 0.03 ng min⁻¹).
    • This cerebral IL-6 release was significantly greater (five-fold) at the end of the second exercise bout (0.30 ± 0.08 ng min⁻¹; P < 0.05), independent of hyperthermia.

    Conclusions:

    • The brain releases Interleukin-6 (IL-6) during prolonged exercise in humans.
    • The duration of exercise, rather than elevated core body temperature, appears to be the primary factor influencing cerebral IL-6 release during physical activity.