Abstract
Atopic-related factors, humoral and mucosal immunoglobulins (Ig), and cortisol were
measured in 17 professional cyclists competing in the 2003 Vuelta a España (a three-week multi-stage race). Venous blood and saliva samples were obtained the
morning before the start of the race (T0), on the first rest day after 10 days of
racing (T1), and before the start of the last stage after 21 days of racing (T2).
Atopic-related factors, IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and eosinophils, were
significantly altered during the race. Serum IgE (T1: + 10 %) and ECP (salivary, T1:
113 % and serum, T2: 155 %) were significantly increased, while eosinophils (T1: -
32 %, T2: - 55 %) were significantly lower, than pre-race levels. Salivary sIgA secretion
rate was significantly decreased at T2 (- 36 %). Pearson product-moment correlations
revealed a modest correlation between salivary sIgA and salivary ECP (T1: r = 0.30;
T2: r = 0.48; p < 0.01). Serum IgM, total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgA levels, at T1 and T2,
and cortisol at T2, were significantly lower than pre-race levels. In conclusion,
the elevation in IgE and ECP suggests an up-regulation of atopic-related factors in
professional cyclists participating in the Vuelta a España. The correlation between salivary sIgA and salivary ECP indicates a role for sIgA
in mediating mucosal inflammation. The alterations in Ig levels may indicate Ig isotype
switching. An increasing state of hormonal fatigue may have influenced the observed
immune alterations.
Key words
Atopy - mucosal immunity - airway inflammation - cycling
References
- 1
Abu-Ghazaleh R I, Fujisawa T, Mestecky J, Kyle R A, Gleich G J.
IgA-induced eosinophil degranulation.
J Immunol.
1989;
142
2393-2400
- 2
Bonsignore M R, Morici G, Vignola A M, Riccobono L, Bonanno A, Profita M, Abate P,
Scichilone N, Amato G, Bellia V, Bonsignore G.
Increased airway inflammatory cells in endurance athletes: what do they mean?.
Clin Exp Allergy.
2003;
33
14-21
- 3
Capron M, Desreumaux P.
Immunobiology of eosinophils in allergy and inflammation.
Res Immunol.
1997;
148
29-33
- 4
Chrousos G P.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and immune-mediated inflammation.
New Engl J Med.
1995;
332
1351-1362
- 5
Corry D B, Kheradmand F.
Induction and regulation of the IgE response.
Nature.
1999;
402
B18-B23
- 6
Cox A J, Gleeson M, Pyne D B, Saunders P U, Clancy R L, Fricker P A.
Valtrex™ therapy for epstein-barr virus reactivation and upper respiratory symptoms
in elite runners.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
2004;
36
1104-1110
- 7
Domej W, Schwaberger G, Tilz G P, Foldes-Papp Z, Demel U, Lang J, von Duvillard P.
Prolonged endurance challenge at moderate altitude. Effect on serum eosinophil cationic
protein, eosinophil dynamics, and lung function.
Chest.
2002;
121
1111-1116
- 8
Dufaux B, Heine O, Prinz U, Soll C, Rost R.
Effect of short maximal physical exercise on the eosinophil cationic protein.
Int J Sports Med.
1993;
14
468-470
- 9
Elenkov I J, Chrousos G P.
Stress hormones, Th1/Th2 patterns, pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines and susceptibility
to disease.
TEM.
1999;
10
359-367
- 10
Eskola J, Ruuskanen O, Soppi E, Viljanen M K, Jarvinen M, Toivonen H, Kouvalainene K.
Effect of sport stress on lymphocyte transformation and antibody formation.
Clin Exp Immunol.
1978;
32
339-345
- 11
Fernandez-Garcia B, Lucia A, Hoyos J, Chicharro J L, Rodriguez-Alonso M, Bandres F,
Terrados N.
The response of sexual and stress hormones of male pro-cyclists during continuous
intense competition.
Int J Sports Med.
2002;
23
555-560
- 12
Foster C.
Monitoring training in athletes with reference to overtraining syndrome.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1998;
30
1164-1168
- 13
Fouda E E.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in allergic airway disease.
J Allergy Clin Immunol.
2004;
113 (Suppl 1)
S328
- 14
Garcia-Roves P M, Terrados N, Fernandez S F, Patterson A M.
Macronutrients intake of top level cyclists during continuous competition-change in
the feeding pattern.
Int J Sports Med.
1998;
19
61-67
- 15
Gleeson M, Pyne D B, Callister R.
Exercise effects on mucosal immunity and risk of upper respiratory illness.
Int Sport Med J.
2003;
4
1-13
- 16
Gulledge T P, Hackney A C.
Reproducibility of low resting testosterone concentrations in endurance trained men.
Eur J Appl Physiol.
1996;
73
582-583
- 17
Kampen G T, Poulsen L K, Nielsen H J, Schulze S, Petersen l J.
IgE levels in surgery: Effect of ranitidine and prednisolone.
Allergy.
1999;
54
171-176
- 18
Klebl F H, Weber G, Kalden J R, Nusslein H G.
In vitro and in vivo effect of glucocorticoids on IgE and IgG subclass secretion.
Clin Exp Allergy.
1994;
24
1022-1029
- 19
Langdeau J, Boulet L.
Prevalence and mechanisms of development of asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness
in athletes.
Sports Med.
2001;
31
601-616
- 20
Lehmann M P, Baumgartl P, Wiesenack C, Seidel A, Baumann J, Fischer S, Spori U, Genmdrisch G,
Kaminski R, Keul J.
Training-overtraining: Influence of a defined increase in training volume vs. training
intensity on performance, catecholamines and some metabolic parameters in experienced
middle- and long-distance runners.
Eur J Appl Physiol.
1992;
64
169-170
- 21
Lucia A, Diaz B, Hoyos J, Fernandez C, Villa G, Bandrez F, Chicharro J L.
Hormone levels of world class cyclists during the Tour of Spain stage race.
Br J Sports Med.
2001;
35
424-430
- 22
Mackinnon L T.
Immunoglobulin, antibody, and exercise.
Exerc Immunol Rev.
1996;
2
1-35
- 23
Malm C.
Exercise immunology: The current state of man and mouse.
Sports Med.
2004;
34
555-566
- 24
McKune A J, Smith L L, Semple S J, Wadee A A.
Nonallergic activation of eosinophils after strenuous endurance exercise.
SASMA.
2004;
16
12-16
- 25
Motegi Y, Kita H.
Interaction with secretory component stimulates effector functions of human eosinophils
but not of neutrophils.
J Immunol.
1998;
161
4340-4346
- 26
Motegi Y, Kita H, Kato M, Morikawa A.
Role of secretory IgA, secretory component, and eosinophils in mucosal inflammation.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol.
2000;
122 (Suppl 1)
25-27
- 27
Naclerio R M, Adkinson N F, Creticos P S, Baroody F M, Hamilton R G.
Intranasal steroids inhibit seasonal increases in ragweed-specific immunoglobulin
E antibodies.
J Allergy Clin Immunol.
1993;
92
717-721
- 28
Nieman D, Johanssen L M, Lee J W.
Infectious episodes in runners before and after the Los Angeles Marathon.
J Sportsmed Phys Fitness.
1990;
30
316-328
- 29
Novas A MP, Rowbottom D G, Jenkins D G.
Tennis, incidence of URTI and salivary IgA.
Int J Sports Med.
2003;
24
223-229
- 30
Peterson C G, Enander I, Nystrand J, Anderson A S, Nilsson L, Venge P.
Radioimmunoassay of human eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) by an improved method.
Establishment of normal levels in serum and turnover in vivo.
Clin Exp Allergy.
1991;
21
561-567
- 31
Rankin A M, Conroy D M, Williams T J.
Eotaxin and eosinophil recruitment: implications for human disease.
Mol Med Today.
2000;
6
20-27
- 32 Roitt I, Brostoff J, Male D. Immunology. Edinburgh; Mosby 2001
- 33
Sanders V M, Munson A E.
Norepinephrine and the antibody response.
Pharmacol Rev.
1985;
37
229-248
- 34 Shephard R J. Physical Activity, Training and the Immune Response. Carmel (IN);
Cooper Publishing Group 1997
- 35
Smith L L.
Overtraining, excessive exercise, and altered immunity: is this a T helper-1 versus
T helper-2 lymphocyte response?.
Sports Med.
2003;
33
347-364
- 36
Suzuki K, Nakaji S, Yamada M, Totsuka M, Sato K, Sugawara K.
Systemic inflammatory response to exhaustive exercise. Cytokine kinetics.
Exerc Immunol Rev.
2002;
8
6-48
- 37
van Egmond M, Damen C A, van Spriel A B, Vidarsson G, van Garderen E, van de Winkel J GJ.
IgA and the IgA Fc receptor.
Trends Immunol.
2001;
22
205-211
- 38
Yu D TY, Clements P J, Pearson C M.
Effects of corticosteroids on exercise-induced lymphocytosis.
Clin Exp Immunol.
1977;
28
326-331
Andrew J. McKune
Department of Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences
Tshwane University of Technology
Private Bag X680
Pretoria, 0001
South Africa
Telefon: + 0123184442
Fax: + 01 23 18 58 01
eMail: mckuneaj@tut.ac.za
