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Both the unspecific and the specific branch of the immune system are triggered and governed by contact and by a set of cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). These mediators, which are produced by activated macrophages and other cells, have also multiple (pleiotropic) effects on different cells and organs. While TNF and IL-1 have strongly proinflammatory effects and seem to play a critical role in clinical situations such as septic shock, IL-6 has more restorative effects by being the main inducer of the acute phase response of the liver. The monokines also induce fever and release of ACTH in the brain. Strenuous exercise leads to a significant elevation of cytokines in the serum thereby eliciting an acute phase response. Analysis of systemic cytokines in the serum of marathon runners by the 7TD1 cell line assay revealed that the observed activity is very likely IL-6.
Northoff et al. (Sat,) studied this question.