DECREASED PLASMA GLUTAMINE LEVEL AND CD4(-CELL NUMBER IN RESPONSE TO 8 WK OF ANAEROBIC TRAINING() T)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of plasma amino acids and glutathione (GSH) on the absolute number of leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in response to different training progr ams. Healthy untrained subjects were randomly assigned to an 8-wk aero bic (AET) or anaerobic (ANT) exercise training program. Absolute numbe r of cell counts did not significantly change in AET, whereas a decrea se of CD4(+) T cell counts (P < 0.05), a fall in cells expressing CD45 RA(+) antigen (P < 0.05), and a marked increase in CD8(+) T cell numbe rs (P < 0.01) were noted in ANT at the end of the training period comp ared with baseline values. Furthermore, ANT demonstrated a marked rise (P < 0.001) in plasma glutamate from 27.6 +/- 2.8 to 49.8 +/- 5.2 mu M and a considerable reduction (P < 0.001) of the plasma glutamine poo l from 713 +/- 22 to 601 +/- 30 mu M after 8 wk of training. The decre ase in glutamine showed a strong positive correlation to the individua l loss of CD4(+) T cells (r = 0.67, P < 0.001). AET demonstrated a ris e (P < 0.05) in GSH from 20.7 +/- 2.5 to 28.1 +/- 1.5 nmol/mg protein at terminal examination. In conclusion, our data indicate impairment o f the number and activity of CD4(+) T cells in response to 8 wk of ANT , which might be linked to metabolic factors such as glutamine.