Abstract des Autors

The immunoregulatory effects of intense exercise were examined measuring polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) migration under agarose, lymphocyte profilerative responses after mitogen stimulation (phytohemagglutinin P, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) and complement activation (C3 conversion) in the peripheral blood of elite runners undergoing maximal exertion. Eleven elite middle- and long-distance runners were tested in a 5-km race on a running track. PMN migration activity towards autologous serum and FMLP as chemoattractants both increased after intense physical activity. The lymphocytes showed increased proliferative responses to the mitogen stimulation 2 h after the run compared with pre-exercise values, and normalized activity after 24 h. The total number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood markedly decreased 2 h after the run and the number of leukocytes increased. A tendency to a decrease in complement C3 conversion was observed after the run, but within the estimated normal area. Our findings suggest that intense physical activity influences the cellular immune system. Verf.-Referat