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Prolonged exercise does not cause lymphocyte DNA damage or increased apoptosis in well-trained endurance athletes

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Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated that lymphocyte apoptosis sensitivity appears to be related to training status and exercise intensity. This work investigated the effect of prolonged, submaximal treadmill running on percentage (%) apoptosis, % necrosis and DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes and related these to changes in total lymphocyte and blood cortisol concentrations in well-trained runners. Venous blood samples (n = 14) were taken immediately before (PRE), immediately after (IPE) and 3 h after (3PE) 2.5 h of treadmill running at 75% of VO2 max from eight well-trained male endurance athletes (age 34.2 ± 2.44 years) and analysed for cellular content and serum cortisol concentrations. Lymphocytes were isolated from whole blood and % apoptotic and necrotic cell were detected by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide uptake. DNA strand breaks were measured by single-cell gel electrophoresis. Despite a significant (P < 0.001) exercise-induced increase in mean serum cortisol concentrations and reduction in lymphocyte counts, the mean % Annexin-V positive cells (13.3 ± 6.78 in PRE, 11.3 ± 5.51 in IPE and 12.8 ± 6.75 in 3PE samples) were not significantly different at the three time-points (P > 0.05). Mean DNA strand breaks in the lymphocytes also did not change significantly (P > 0.05) rising from 25.7 ± 2.16 to 26.9 ± 1.89 and 27.1 ± 1.38 μm in IPE and 3PE samples, respectively. The exercise-induced changes in total blood lymphocyte counts and cortisol concentrations did not result in a significant change in % apoptotic lymphocytes or DNA strand breaks in the endurance-trained athletes during this prolonged, submaximal exercise.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the medical support of Dr C Grobbelaar and skilled, technical support of Mr Arthur Petersen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 519, Umbilo Road, Congella 4013, Private Bag 7, Durban, 4001, South Africa

    E. M. Peters, M. Van Eden, N. Tyler, A. Ramautar & A. A. Chuturgoon

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  1. E. M. Peters
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  2. M. Van Eden
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  3. N. Tyler
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  4. A. Ramautar
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  5. A. A. Chuturgoon
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Correspondence to E. M. Peters.

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Peters, E.M., Van Eden, M., Tyler, N. et al. Prolonged exercise does not cause lymphocyte DNA damage or increased apoptosis in well-trained endurance athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 98, 124–131 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0227-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0227-4

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