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Hot water immersion induces an acute cytokine response in cervical spinal cord injury

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The dysfunctional sympathetic nervous system in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) impairs adrenergic responses and may, therefore, contribute to the blunted post-exercise cytokine response. The purpose of this study was to investigate an alternative way to exercise to induce an acute cytokine response by passive core temperature elevation in CSCI.

Methods

Seven male participants with a motor complete CSCI and 8 male able-bodied controls were immersed for 60 min in water set at a temperature 2 °C above the individuals’ resting oesophageal temperature. Blood was collected pre, post, and every hour up to 4 h post-immersion.

Results

Hot water immersion resulted in an IL-6 plasma concentration mean increase of 133 ± 144 % in both groups (P = 0.001). On a group level, IL-6 plasma concentrations were 68 ± 38 % higher in CSCI (P = 0.06). In both groups, IL-8 increased by 14 ± 11 % (P = 0.02) and IL-1ra by 18 ± 17 % (P = 0.05). Catecholamine plasma concentrations were significantly reduced in CSCI (P < 0.05) and did not increase following immersion.

Conclusions

Passive elevation of core temperature acutely elevates IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1ra in CSCI despite a blunted adrenergic response, which is in contrast to earlier exercise interventions in CSCI. The present study lays the foundation for future studies to explore water immersion as an alternative to exercise to induce an acute cytokine response in CSCI.

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Abbreviations

AB:

Able-bodied

ASIA:

American spinal injury association impairment scale

C:

Cervical

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

CSCI:

Cervical spinal cord injury

CV:

Coefficient of variation

IL:

Interleukin

IL-1ra:

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

mRNA:

Messenger ribonucleic acid

sICAM:

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule

TNF:

Tumour necrosis factor

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Acknowledgments

We thank all participants for their willingness to take part in this study. Appreciation is extended to the physiotherapy and medical teams in Nachi-Katsuura and Wakayama for their contribution during laboratory testing. This study was supported by grants from the Joint Usage/Research Center of Sports for Persons with Impairments (Tokyo, Japan), and the Research Center of Sports Medicine and Balneology (Natchi-Katsuura, Japan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan

    K. Kouda, Y. Umemoto, M. Banno, T. Kinoshita, T. Moriki, T. Nakamura & F. Tajima

  2. The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

    C. A. Leicht, N. C. Bishop & V. L. Goosey-Tolfrey

Authors
  1. C. A. Leicht
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  2. K. Kouda
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  3. Y. Umemoto
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  4. M. Banno
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  5. T. Kinoshita
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  6. T. Moriki
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  7. T. Nakamura
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  8. N. C. Bishop
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  9. V. L. Goosey-Tolfrey
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  10. F. Tajima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. A. Leicht.

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There is no conflict of interest

Ethical standard

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

Additional information

Communicated by Fabio Fischetti.

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Leicht, C.A., Kouda, K., Umemoto, Y. et al. Hot water immersion induces an acute cytokine response in cervical spinal cord injury. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2243–2252 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3206-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3206-9

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