[Naphthoquinones as immunomodulators during intensive exertion]

Naphthoquinones such as phylloquinone, menadione and vicasol normalized or increased the immune response in rats after intensive physical load. The most marked immunomodulating effect was induced by phylloquinone. The naphthoquinones induced the development of immunostimulating properties in heavy red blood cells by the direct action on the cell membranes or indirectly through proteolytic enzymes secreted by hepatocytes. The proteolytic enzymes secreted to the vascular channel in physical load increased the susceptibility of heavy red blood cells to phylloquinone. Glycosaminoglycans accumulating in the vascular channel in physical load increased the resistance of heavy red blood cells to phylloquinone. Heavy red blood cells of physically loaded animals treated in succession with hyaluronidase and phylloquinone and red blood cells of intact rats after the incubation in the presence of trypsin and phylloquinone proved to be effective immunomodulators in physical load.