Innate Immune Response to (An)Aerobic Exercise in Rowing Athletes

Rationale: Exercise induces innate immune response activation in athletes. The response starts during exercise and lasts for approximately 24 hours. This innate immune response shows similarities to the innate immune activation observed in, for example, bacterial infection and trauma. Immediately after exercise, athletes develop leukocytosis and cytokine production is altered towards an inflammatory pattern. However, to gain insight in immune response, a detailed cell receptor expression is required. To investigate the physiological innate immune response to exercise, we developed a model in rowers.

Objective: To determine the type and degree of cellular inflammatory response in peripheral blood of elite rowing athletes after both anaerobe and aerobe exercise.

Study design: Investigator driven, monocenter observational pilot study.

Study population: 16 healthy, non-asthmatic, human volunteers, 18-25 year old. All competitive rowing athletes.

Intervention : All athletes perform two separate tests on a rowing ergometer. One anaerobe (flat out) exercise test (minutes) at day 1 and a aerobe test (1 hour) at day 2. Blood withdrawal of 9mL will be performed at four time points (1 pretest time point and 3 post: at 0h, 2 and 4h).

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main endpoint is a rise in neutrophil cell count and the appearance of different subsets of neutrophils objectified by a change in receptor expression. Not only neutrophils are important in this innate cell response, other leukocytes like lymphocytes, monocytes and hematopoietic progenitor cells also play a role. Therefore the detailed analysis of receptor profiles on these cells will be measured by Flowcytometry.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The anaerobe and aerobe exercise tests do not differ significantly from what the athletes are used to do for training purposes. Athletes who experience any pain or discomfort during exercise will be advised to stop. Blood withdrawal on itself may cause a vasovagal response and especially well trained athletes are susceptible to develop this response. A trained physician is present to take care and look after rowers that suffered from vasovagal collapse. All anaerobe exercise brings along a very small risk of acute cardiovascular complications and although all rowers undergo exercise testing by an exercise physiologist before participating in competition, this risk remains.

The total amount of time of the study is 2 times 5 hours. This time frame consists of the prior blood withdrawal, the testing itself and subsequently the three time points of blood withdrawal. The amount of blood withdrawal per athlete is 4 x 9mL, with a total of 36 mL per volunteer at one day of testing. The total blood withdrawal is therefore 72 mL base on two testing days.

Inclusion criteria

• Elite rower: rowing for 12 months or longer, >6 times a week.
• Aged 18-25 years
• Pretested(by exercise test*) maximum heart rate
• Visiting Rowing club Triton, Orca or Viking
• Performed a sports medical examination test (required for competing on a national level by the Royal Dutch Rowing Asscociation) *The exercise test is a multi step power test which builds up to maximum effort.

Exclusion criteria

• Asthmatic
• Current respiratory infection, sinusitis, otitis or any other sign of acute/ chronic inflammatory disease
• Physically injured