A periodized endurance training is able to adapt physical and psychological needs
and increase exercise performance. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in regulation
of the immune response. In the present study, we trained Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats
for five weeks using a progressive endurance protocol with the aim of measuring the
effect on myeloid DC differentiation and maturation. Rats were divided into a non-exercise
group (NEG) and an exercise group (EG). Bone marrow cells were isolated from these
rats after training and cultured in the presence of granulocyte/monocyte-colony stimulatory
factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin (IL)-4, and the resultant immature DCs were triggered
with lipopolysaccharide to mature. DCs were collected and the main characteristics
of DCs were assessed. The recovery rate and the expression of major histocompatibility
complex (MHC) class II molecules for DC collected from EG was markedly greater than
NEG. The function of DCs from EG to trigger a mixed leukocyte reaction and IL-12 production
was higher than NEG. There was no liver and renal toxicity observed in all rats. Changes
in food/water consumption and body weight increase between the groups were normal
for the conditions. This study demonstrated that periodized endurance training is
able to modulate DC development and shift them towards a more mature state.
periodized endurance training - dendritic cell (DC) - immune function