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Body temperature and its effect on leukocyte mobilization, cytokines and markers of neutrophil activation during and after exercise

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Abstract

We investigated the influence of rectal temperature on the immune system during and after exercise. Ten well-trained male cyclists completed exercise trials (90 min cycling at 60% \( \ifmmode\expandafter\dot\else\expandafter\.\fi{V}{\text{O}}_{{2\max }} + \;{\kern 1pt} 16.1{\text{ - km}} \) time trial) on three separate occasions: once in 18°C and twice in 32°C. Twenty minutes after the trials in 32°C, the cyclists sat for ∼20 min in cold water (14°C) on one occasion, whereas on another occasion they sat at room temperature. Rectal temperature increased significantly during cycling in both conditions, and was significantly higher after cycling in 32°C than in 18°C (P < 0.05). Leukocyte counts increased significantly during cycling but did not differ between the conditions. The concentrations of serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10, plasma catecholamines, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, myeloperoxidase and calprotectin increased significantly following cycling in both conditions. The concentrations of serum IL-8 (25%), IL-10 (120%), IL-1 receptor antagonist (70%), tumour necrosis factor-α (17%), plasma myeloperoxidase (26%) and norepinephrine (130%) were significantly higher after cycling in 32°C than in 18°C. During recovery from exercise in 32°C, rectal temperature was significantly lower in response to sitting in cold water than at room temperature. However, immune changes during 90 min of recovery did not differ significantly between sitting in cold water and at room temperature. The greater rise in rectal temperature during exercise in 32°C increased the concentrations of serum IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra, TNF-α and plasma myeloperoxidase, whereas the greater decline in rectal temperature during cold water immersion after exercise did not affect immune responses.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for SCOE research and Young Scientist (A) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan (no. 17680047). Additional support was provided by a Computing Health and Science Faculty Small Grant, and a Visiting Fellow Grant from Edith Cowan University. At the time that this study was conducted, Jonathan Peake was a recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Jonathan Peake

  2. Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan

    Jonathan Peake & Katsuhiko Suzuki

  3. School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Jeremiah J. Peiffer, Chris R. Abbiss, Kazunori Nosaka & Paul B. Laursen

  4. Consolidated Research Institute for Advanced Science and Medical Care, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Mitsuharu Okutsu & Katsuhiko Suzuki

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  1. Jonathan Peake
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  2. Jeremiah J. Peiffer
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  4. Kazunori Nosaka
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Correspondence to Jonathan Peake.

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Peake, J., Peiffer, J.J., Abbiss, C.R. et al. Body temperature and its effect on leukocyte mobilization, cytokines and markers of neutrophil activation during and after exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 102, 391–401 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0598-1

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