INCREASED IMMUNE ACTIVATION DURING AND AFTER PHYSICAL EXERCISE

The present study has been performed to examine the pattern of immune response during and following a long-duration of physical exercise. We have measured plasma concentrations of serum soluble immune activatio n markers namely soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), soluble CD8 (sCD8), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), soluble C D23 (sCD23), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R) and neopt erin in 18 individuals before, during (ascent: 3 h, descent: 2 h) and after an alpine tour. Compared to baseline levels, all the parameters were significantly increased on top of the mountain and/or after desce nt. Within 36 hours after the tour sIL-2R, sCD8 and sICAM-1 decreased. In contrast, STNF-R and neopterin levels remained higher than baselin e throughout the study, only partially decreasing 24 and 36 hours from start. These data show immune system activation induced by physical e xercise. The increase of parameters sTNF-R and neopterin, reflecting a ctivation of macrophages, was sustained. The data suggest that immune activation phenomena may be involved in the pathogenesis of impaired i mmune function after exercise and the exercise-induced asthma.