Effect of different treadmill exercises on immune adherense of erythrocytes and granulocytes

Introduction

Erythrocytes have an immune function as well as a respiratory one [1]. The immune functions of erythrocytes and leucocytes co-adjust, interrelate and interact within the body, which jointly complete functions of defence against pathogens. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different treadmill exercises on the immune adherence of erythrocytes and granulocytes, and to determine the relationship between the immune adherent functions of erythrocytes and granulocytes after exercise.

Methods

Thirty male volunteers (23.83±3.04 yrs) performed four separate treadmill exercise trials: maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test (T1), exercise at 40% VO2 max for 30 minutes (T2), 80% VO2 max for 30 minutes (T3), and 80% VO2 max for 60 minutes (T4). Blood samples were taken from participants before, immediately after and one hour, two hours and 24 hours after each exercise trial. Immune adherence of erythrocytes and granulocytes were assayed using the erythrocyte- and granulocyte-tumor cell rosette tests.

Results

All four exercise tests induced significant decreases in number of erythrocyte-tumor cell rosette (ETCR) formation in 100 tumor cells in participants (p< .01). Greater declines in ETCR were obtained after T1, T3 and T4. Similar results were observed for the immune adherence of granulocytes after the exercise tests.
A positive correlation was established between ETCR and number of granulocyte-tumor cell rosette (GTCR) formation in 100 tumor cells (r = .70, p < .01). However, different correlations were found after the four exercise tests. Higher correlation was obtained after T4 (r = .78, p < .01), and lower correlation was observed after T2 (r = .37, p < .01).

Discussion / Conclusions

Some studies reported that various exercise programs led to different effects on the immune function of erythrocytes [2-3], and the change in erythrocyte immune function in physical exercise related to lymphocyte immune function [4]. The present study indicated that the immune adherence of erythrocytes and granulocytes was diminished by acute exercise. The suppression of the immune functions of erythrocytes and granulocytes was associated with intensity and duration. In addition, there was a close relationship between immune adherent functions of erythrocytes and granulocytes.

References

[1] Birmingham, D.J. & Hebert L.A. (2001). Immunol Rev, 180, 100-111.
[2] Hu, Q.C. et al. (1993) Advance of Red Cell Immunology Research (pp. 98-101). Nanjing, China: Nanjing University Publisher.
[3] Thomsen, B.S. et al. (1992). Int J Sports Med, 13, 172-175.
[4] Soong, P. et al. (2003). JEPonline, 6, 1-8
* The research was supported by the Singapore MINDEF-NTU Joint Fund and NIE Fund.