Regular moderate physical activity potentially accelerates and strengthens both the pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediator response after acute exercise stress

• Published in: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids Vol. 202; p. 102642
• Main Authors: Malan, Linda, Zandberg, Lizelle, Pienaar, Cindy, Nienaber, Arista, Havemann-Nel, Lize
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase - metabolism; Exercise - physiology; Gene expression; Humans; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids - blood; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids - metabolism; Inflammation; Inflammation - metabolism; Leukocytes - metabolism; Lipid mediator response; Male; Post-exercise; Recreational runners; Resistance exercise; Resistance Training; Running - physiology; Young Adult; Post-exercise; Lipid mediator response; Inflammation; Gene expression; Recreational runners; Resistance exercise
• ISSN: 0952-3278; 1532-2823; 1532-2823
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2024.102642

•Regular moderate exercise potentially accelerates and strengthens the lipid mediator immune response.•Both the pro-inflammatory and inflammation resolution responses were affected.•The changed response was apparent on gene expression and metabolite level. The PUFA-derived lipid mediator response shifts from pro-inflammatory to inflammation resolution over time and may be modified by regular moderate exercise. This pre-post-test study aimed to compare the expression of PTGES2 (COX2) and ALOX15 in leucocytes and the plasma 5- and 15-HETE, 18-HEPE and 17-HDHA responses after unaccustomed resistance exercise between 18–35-year-old male recreational runners (n = 18) and less-active controls (n = 15). One repetition maximum (1RM) was determined for squats, 45° leg presses and leg extensions. Subsequently three sets of 8–10 repetitions were performed at 80 % 1RM and blood collected over 72 hours. PTGES2 and ALOX15 expression changed over time in runners (P = 0.016, P = 0.007) but not controls (P = 0.631, P = 0.539). 5- and 15-HETE changed over time in runners (P < 0.001, P = 0.022), but not controls (P = 0.457, P = 0.985). 18-HEPE changed in runners and controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.024), 17-HDHA changed borderline in runners (P = 0.076). In conclusion, pro-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving lipid mediators may respond sooner and more robust in recreational runners than less-active controls after strenuous resistance exercise.