Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this study was to compare natural killer cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA) and Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation (T cell function) in athletes versus nonathletes, with measurement of natural killer (NK) and T cells to allow a comparison on a "per-cell" adjusted basis. Eighteen young male endurance athletes (10 runners and 8 cyclists) with a mean VO2max of 70.7+/-1.3 ml/kg/min and 6.6+/-0.8 years of competitive experience were compared with 11 nonathletic male adults (47.6+/-3.1 ml/kg/min). Concentrations of circulating leukocyte and lymphocyte subsets, including NK and T cells, were not significantly different between groups. NKCA and T cell function also did not differ between groups, whether expressed unadjusted or adjusted on a per-cell basis. For all subjects combined, both NKCA and T cell function were unrelated to VO2max (r=0.005, p=0.98; r=0.007, p=0.97, respectively). These data do not support the contention that immune function, as measured in this study, is altered in endurance athletes. Verf.-Referat