Immune System Alteration in Response to Increased Physical Training During a Five Day Soccer Training Camp

C. Malm; Ö Ekblom; B. Ekblom

doi:10.1055/s-2004-821119

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2004; 25(6): 471-476
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-821119

Immunology

Immune System Alteration in Response to Increased Physical Training During a Five Day Soccer Training Camp

C. Malm¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Ö. Ekblom¹ ^, ² , B. Ekblom¹ ^, ²

¹Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
²Stockholm University College of Physical Education and Sport, Stockholm, Sweden
³University of Umeå, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå, Sweden
⁴Winternet, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden

Abstract

Leukocyte and monocyte subpopulations were investigated in ten elite male soccer players before and after a 5-day training camp. It was hypothesized that with increased training intensity and duration, the immune system would show signs of depression. Blood samples were taken at rest before and after the training camp and cell surface antigens were investigated by four-colour flow cytometry. After five days of intensified training, there was a significant decrease in the number of T helper, T cytotoxic and B cells, the expression of CD11 b on leukocytes increased and the NK cell population did not change significantly. It is concluded that after a period of intensified training, soccer players may experience decreased T and B cell numbers in circulation, possibly affecting their capability to activate the immune system and resist infections. However, in contrast to the acute decrease in the number of circulating NK cells commonly observed after physical exercise, no change in this cell population was observed at rest after a period of intensified physical training. Exercise-induced immunological changes were highly differentiated between different leukocyte subpopulations.

Key words

Immune system - leukocyte subpopulations - soccer

Full Text

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PhD Christer Malm

Umeå University · Department of Integrative Medical Biology · Section for Anatomy

90187 Umeå

Sweden

Phone: + 46907865734

Fax: + 46 9 07 86 54 80

Email: christer.malm@anatomy.umu.se