An ultra-endurance event leads to changes in circulating regulatory T-cells, CD4+ naïve and CD8+ effector memory T-cells in the 48 h post-race recovery period
Purpose Exercise is known to acutely affect T-lymphocyte populations in the peripheral blood, which is intensity- and
duration-dependent. However, effects of longer duration endurance exercise (>5 h) on T-cells in the days following are
unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating T-cell changes that occur in response to an ultra-endurance
event, which may provide insight into the inflammatory response to ultra-endurance exercise.
Methods Ten individuals (m=7, f=3) completing an Ironman 70.3 event volunteered for the study. Peripheral blood samples were taken 1–2 days pre-race (PRE-RACE), and 1 day (RACE+1) and 2 days (RACE+2) post-race, with circulating
T-cells enumerated by flow cytometry (total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, regulatory T-cells [CD4+CD25+CD127−;
TREG], naïve [CD27+CD45RA+; NA], central memory [CD27+CD45RA−; CM], effector memory [CD27−CD45RA−;
EM], and effector memory CD45RA+ [CD27−CD45RA+; EMRA]).
Results There were no changes in total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. TREG RACE+1 was significantly higher compared
to PRE-RACE, as were the proportion of CD4+ NA cells and CD8+ CM cells at RACE+2; CD8+ EM cells fell at RACE+2
(absolute counts and proportion).
Conclusion In conclusion, the ultra-endurance event evoked T-cell changes over the 48 h recovery period, with an increase
in T-cells that regulate the immune response, and a reduction in circulating EM T-cells, most likely trafficked to sites of
tissue damage and inflammation.
Citation
Lithgow, H., Gibson, L., Wilson, R., Guthrie, N., Ingram-Sills, L., Clifford, T., & Ross, M. (online). An ultra-endurance event leads to changes in circulating regulatory T-cells, CD4+ naïve and CD8+ effector memory T-cells in the 48 h post-race recovery period. European Journal of Applied Physiology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05677-y
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