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Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans

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Sex-Specific Immune Cell Mobilization and Recovery After High-Volume Glycolytic Squat Exercise.

William J Kraemer^1,2, Andrea M Mastro³, Catherine Saenz¹

¹Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

|April 15, 2026

Summary

High-volume resistance exercise mobilizes immune cells differently between sexes, with men showing greater initial responses, particularly in natural killer (NK) cells. This highlights sex-specific immune adaptations to exercise recovery.

Keywords:

immune function lymphocytes natural killer cells resistance training sex differences

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Area of Science:

Exercise Immunology
Skeletal Muscle Physiology
Cellular Biology

Background:

Acute resistance exercise triggers immune responses for tissue repair and protection.
Understanding sex-specific immune reactions to exercise is crucial for tailored training and recovery strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate sex-based differences in leukocyte mobilization and immune cell recovery following a single bout of high-volume, glycolytic resistance exercise.
To analyze the time course of immune cell changes in men and women during the early recovery phase after exercise.

Main Methods:

Thirty-four men and 24 women performed 6 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell squats at 65% of 10-repetition maximum.
Venous blood samples were collected pre-exercise, 15 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Flow cytometry quantified lymphocytes, T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+), B cells, NK cells, and activation markers (CD69, CD25, CD127).

Main Results:

Men exhibited significantly greater transient lymphocyte mobilization at 15 minutes post-exercise compared to women, primarily driven by a larger increase in natural killer (NK) cells.
While both sexes showed declines in lymphocytes and T cells by 60 minutes, men displayed greater modulation of activation markers.
Women showed an increase in CD4+ T cell counts at 60 minutes post-exercise.

Conclusions:

Moderate-intensity, high-volume resistance exercise induces significant, yet partially sex-dependent, leukocyte mobilization.
Natural killer (NK) cells and early activation markers show notable sex-specific responses to acute resistance exercise.
These findings underscore the influence of sex on the acute immune response to resistance exercise and the dynamics of immune cell recovery.