Effects of eccentric exercise on the immune system in men

The effects of eccentric exercise on changes in numbers of circulating leuk ocytes, cell activation, cell adhesion, and cellular memory function were i nvestigated in 12 men, aged 22-35 yr. The immunologic effects of postexerci se epidermal treatment with monochromatic, infrared light were also evaluat ed. Blood was drawn before and 6, 24, and 48 h after exercise for phenotypi ng and analysis of creatine kinase activity. There was an increase in leuko cyte, monocyte, and neutrophil number, no change in the number of basophils , eosinophils, B cells, and T cells, and a decrease in natural killer cell number postexercise. Some markers of lymphocyte and monocyte activation rem ained unchanged or decreased, whereas the expression of adhesion molecules 62L and 11b increased on monocytes. It is concluded that eccentric exercise induced decreased activation, and increased cell adhesion capacity, of mon ocytes. Altered trafficking of cells between lymphoid tissue and blood, sel ective apoptosis, or attachment/detachment from the endothelial wall can ex plain the observed phenotypic changes. Treatment with monochromatic, infrar ed light did not significantly affect any of the investigated variables. Co rrelations between immunologic and physiological parameters indicate a role of the immune system in adaptation to physical exercise.