Elsevier

Immunobiology

Volume 201, Issue 5, April 2000, Pages 611-620
Immunobiology

Increase in Immune Activation, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Erythropoietin after an Ultramarathon Run at Moderate Altitude

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0171-2985(00)80078-9Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of exhaustive long lasting exercise at moderate altitude on the time course of serum immunomodulatory peptides, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and serum erythropoietin (EPO). Thirteen well trained runners participated at the Swiss Alpine Marathon of Davos (distance 67 km, altitude difference 2300 m). Interleukin-6 was significantly elevated in the first 2h after the run. In contrast, tumor necrosis factor-α and both soluble tumor necrosis factor-a receptors I and II were increased after exercise termination and showed sustained serum concentrations the following days. Neopterin, a serum marker for the activation of the cellular immune system, was increased until day two after the run. Immediately after the run VEGF was significantly elevated and further increased 2.4-fold until day five post exercise (p = 0.005). EPO was also increased after exercise but reached its maximum 2 h after the run (2-fold increase; p = 0.004) and decreased thereafter. The main findings of our study are that prolonged strenuous exercise at moderate altitude induced a significant long lasting increase in serum VEGF and EPO which was accompanied by an activation of the immune system.

References (32)

  • A. Koller et al.

    Effects of prolonged strenuous endurance exercise on plasma myosin heavy chain fragments and other muscular proteins

    J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness

    (1998)
  • H.J. Schwandt et al.

    Influence of prolonged physical exercise on the erythropoietin concentration in blood

    Eur. J. Physiol.

    (1991)
  • T. Klausen et al.

    The effect of short and long duration exercise on serum erythropoietin concentrations

    Eur. J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1993)
  • W. Schmidt et al.

    Effects of maximal and submaximal exercise under normoxic and hypoxic conditions on serum erythropoietin level

    Int. J. Sports Med.

    (1991)
  • C. Deetjen et al.

    Time course of neopterin and cytokines after an extreme bicycle race at moderate altitude

    Pteridines

    (1997)
  • Van W. Beaumont et al.

    Erythrocyte volume, plasma volume and acid base changes in exercise and heat dehydration

    J. Appl. Physiol.

    (1981)
  • Cited by (75)

    • Pterins as diagnostic markers of exercise-induced stress: a systematic review

      2020, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
      Citation Excerpt :

      Neopterin was measured in plasma (n = 5), serum (n = 4) and urine (n = 2, one study measured plasma and urine neopterin) from predominantly highly trained individuals. The response of neopterin was measured prior to and following long distance running events spanning from 20 km under two hours26 to ultramarathons (67 km) at moderate altitude.27 Independent of bio-fluid, neopterin significantly increased in response to running in eight of the nine studies.

    • Reduction of hemoglobin, not iron, inhibited maturation of red blood cells in male rats exposed to high intensity endurance exercises

      2019, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      We also noticed that serum erythropoietin contents increased in running rats but unchanged in swimming rats. It was possibly induced by acute RBCs destructions resulted from running, which producing more impacts on body than swimming [34–36]. In the case that iron was not the cause of hemoglobin reduction and RBCs immaturation, we evaluated status of protein nutrition because protein was another part of hemoglobin except iron.

    • Differential effects of voluntary wheel running and toy rotation on the mRNA expression of neurotrophic factors and FKBP5 in a post-traumatic stress disorder rat model with the shuttle-box task

      2018, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
      Citation Excerpt :

      In the EE group, amygdalar NGF and VEGF showed higher expression than in the other three groups; thus, both the RW and toy components may be necessary to increase amygdalar NGF and VEGF. Previous studies showed that NGF and VEGF are involved in neuronal plasticity [24–26], and the amygdala plays a central role in the pathology of PTSD [27]. Therefore, the effect of EE on PTSD-like behavior might be mediated through amygdalar NGF and VEGF.

    • Joggin’ the Noggin: Towards a Physiological Understanding of Exercise-Induced Cognitive Benefits

      2018, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
      Citation Excerpt :

      In mice, exercise induces expression of VEGF in the hippocampus (Morland et al. 2017; Tang et al. 2010) as well as the lungs and locomotor skeletal muscles, though increased expression is exclusive to the hippocampus in hypoxic conditions (Tang et al. 2010). In humans, exercise at high altitudes has been observed to increase serum VEGF levels immediately after exercise, with elevated levels lasting up to one month after training (Asano et al. 1998; Schobersberger et al. 2000). Finally, exercise appears to increase the permeability of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) (Bailey et al. 2011), which could also contribute to the aforementioned effects.

    • An acute bout of aerobic or strength exercise specifically modifies circulating exerkine levels and neurocognitive functions in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment

      2018, NeuroImage: Clinical
      Citation Excerpt :

      Indeed, Voss et al. (2013) demonstrated that exercise-induced changes in circulating growth factors (e.g., BDNF, IGF-1, and VEGF) were related to increases in temporal lobe functional brain connectivity in the elderly. Acute exercise can increase circulating BDNF, IGF-1 and VEGF in healthy persons (Bang et al., 1990; Correia et al., 2010; Rojas Vega et al., 2010; Schobersberger et al., 2000). In animal studies, FGF-2 expression can be regulated by short-term physical exercise to enhance cognitive function (Gomez-Pinilla et al., 1997, 1998).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    *

    Wolfgang Schobersberger, MD, Division for General and Surgical Intensive Care Medicine, Department for Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Anichstrasse 35, A - 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Phone: #43-512-504-4560, Fax: #43-512-504-2749

    View full text