The effect of an adventure race on lymphocyte and neutrophil death

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. 447 - 453
• Main Authors: Levada-Pires, Adriana Cristina, Fonseca, C. E. R., Hatanaka, E., Alba-Loureiro, T., D′Angelo, A., Velhote, F. B., Curi, R., Pithon-Curi, T. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2010; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brazil; Cell death; Cell Membrane - pathology; DNA Fragmentation; Exercise; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human Physiology; Humans; Infections; Leukocytes; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - immunology; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mountain biking; Necrosis; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - immunology; Neutrophils - metabolism; Neutrophils - pathology; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Phagocytosis; Physical Endurance - immunology; Physical fitness; Reactive Oxygen Species - blood; Sports Medicine; Time Factors; Triathlon; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Brazil; Elite athletes; Ecomotion Pró; Lymphocytes; Cell death; ROS production; Neutrophils; Human; Neutrophil; Athlete; Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-010-1363-4

The effect of an adventure race (Ecomotion Pró), which lasted for 4–5 days, on neutrophil and lymphocyte death from elite athletes was investigated. Blood was collected from 11 athletes at rest and after the adventure race. The following parameters of cell death were measured in neutrophils and lymphocytes: cell membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Phagocytosis capacity was also evaluated in neutrophils. The adventure race raised the proportion of cells with the loss of membrane integrity; lymphocytes by 14% and neutrophils by 16.4%. The proportion of lymphocytes with DNA fragmentation (2.9-fold) and mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization (1.5-fold) increased. However, these parameters did not change in neutrophils. ROS production remained unchanged in lymphocytes, whereas an increase by 2.2-fold was found in neutrophils due to the race. Despite these changes, the phagocytosis capacity did not change in neutrophils after the race. In conclusion, the Ecomotion Pró race-induced neutrophil death by necrosis (as indicated by the loss of membrane integrity) and led to lymphocyte death by apoptosis (as indicated by increase DNA fragmentation and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane).