EFFECT OF ACUTE EXHAUSTING EXERCISE ON CYTOKINE GENE-EXPRESSION IN MEN

Because of recent interest in the effects of physical exercise on immu nologic function, we decided to use state-of-the-art methods to evalua te cytokines in the peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) of 7 men before and after a maximal treadmill stress test. Change in cytokine gene ex pression was quantified from PBLs using a reverse transcriptase polyme rase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). In contrast to reports on serum le vels or using in vitro testing, direct gene expression of TNF-alpha de creased after the stress test (p < 0.008). However, the 47 % decrease was relatively small and of questionable biological significance, Leve ls of IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and INF-gamma did not cha nge.