Changes of polymorphonuclear granulocyte migration and lymphocyte proliferative responses in elite runners undergoing intense exercise

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The immunoregulatory effects of intense exercise were examined measuring polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) migration under agarose, lymphocyte proliferative responses after mitogen stimulation (phytohemagglutinin P, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen) and complement activation (C3 conversion) in the peripheral blood of elite runners undergoing maximal exertion. Eleven elite middle‐ and long‐distance runners were tested in a 5‐km race on a running track. PMN migration activity towards autologous serum and FMLP as chemoattractants both increased after intense physical activity. The lymphocytes showed increased proliferative responses to the mitogen stimulation 2 h after the run compared with pre‐exercise values, and normalized activity after 24 h. The total number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood markedly decreased 2 h after the run and the number of leukocytes increased. A tendency to a decrease in complement C3 conversion‐was observed after the run, but within the estimated normal area. Our findings suggest that intense physical activity influences the cellular immune system.