Abstract des Autors

The purpose of the present study was to investigate wether regular moderate endurance exercise influences the cytokine synthesis of white blood cells. Eight healthy leisure time athletes participated in a three months controlled moderate endurance exercise program with 3 to 4 training units per week, a maximum training volume of about 30 km per week and an exercise intensity between 1.8 and 2.5 mmol/l blood lactic acid. Seven healthy subjects served as a control group. Venous blood samples were taken under conditions of rest before and after the three months training program. The following parameters were determined: Leucocyte count, differential blood picture, lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4+, CD8+, CD20+/CD23+, CD16+). Whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccarides (interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (IL-2 and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2-R)). Standard ELISA technique was used to measure the cytokine levels in the supernatants. In the training group the aerobic capacity (4 mmol/l lactic acid threshold) was improved from 2.86+/-0.83 m/s to 3.06+/-0.79 m/s (p=0.009). The white blood cell count, the differential blood picture and the lymphocyte subset distribution did not change. However, the IL-1beta production increased significantly from 1496+/-264 pg/ml to 2127+/-672 pg/ml (p=0.008) after the training period and the IL-6 synthesis was also with an increase from 4347+/-1366 pg/ml to 4867+/-1765 pg/ml (p=0.061; trend) elevated. These parameters remained unchanged in the control group. The synthesis of IL-2 and sIL-2-R was not significantly influenced. Moderate endurance exercise on a regular basis seems to influence the production of monocyte derived cytokines, while the influence on the cytokines synthesized by T-cells appears to be of lower importance. Verf.-Referat