Context: Exercise increases the levels of circulating inflammatory mediators.
Objective: Does an acute bout of exercise affect the mRNA gene expression level of inflammatory markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and contribute to the circulating levels of inflammatory mediators?
Materials and methods: Ten healthy, non-smoking men (22-28 years old) performed 1-hour cycling at 70% of VO2 max.
Results: The gene transcripts of CXCL16, IL-1β, IL-8, COX-2, TXB21 and GATA3 were significantly up-regulated in PBMCs. Serum levels of CXCL16, IL-6, TNFα and IL-10 were also significantly increased after exercise.
Discussion and conclusion: Increased mRNA transcription of inflammatory genes in PBMCs may contribute to increased level of inflammatory markers after an acute bout of exercise. The increased mRNA levels of GATA-3 and TXB21 may indicate that T cell lymphocytes are activated and secrete cytokines into the circulation. It needs to be further investigated if exercise changes the Th1/Th2 balance.
Keywords: Acute exercise; T helper cell response; gene expression; inflammation; peripheral blood mononuclear cells.