Nonselective beta blockade attenuates the recruitment of CD62L(-) T lymphocytes following exercise

Exercise induces a selective redistribution of CD62L(-) T lymphocytes. This study examined the effects of beta adrenergic receptor blockade on this ph enomenon. Twelve healthy men were exercised to exhaustion on a treadmill pr ior to and following 1 week of treatment with the nonselective beta antagon ist propranolol or the beta(1) selective antagonist metoprolol. Dynamic exe rcise resulted in a significant lymphocytosis (p < 0.001). CD8(+)CD62L(-) T cells showed a greater than 3-fold increase in response to exercise (p < 0 .001) as compared to CD8(+)CD62L(+) T cells, which showed a more modest inc rease. Treatment with the nonselective beta antagonist propranolol signific antly attenuated the preferential increase of circulating CD8(+)CD62L(-) ly mphocytes (p = 0.01) but had no effect on CD8(+)CD62L(+) T cells. Treatment with the beta(1) selective antagonist metoprolol did not affect the respon se of either subset. Our findings replicate a prior study indicating that C D62L expression influences T lymphocyte trafficking in response to exercise and extends those findings by showing that this phenomenon is mediated, in part, via the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor.