Alteration of Interferon Gamma (IFN-gamma)in Human Plasma with Graded Physical Activity

Introduction: Practice of regular exercise is beneficial for health. Physical exercises have been demonstrated to alter levels of the cytokine interferon Gamma in plasma. IFN-gamma is known to be an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Materials and Methods: We assessed the effect of single bout of moderate exercise and a single bout of strenuous exercise and one month of regular moderate exercise on plasma IFN-gamma. The study consisted of 18 healthy volunteers (10 males and 8 females) with the mean age, 20.94 years, range, 18-25 years. The exercise regime adopted is the standardized 10m Shuttle Walk Test regime. IFN-gamma was estimated using the Sandwich ELISA technique. The reagent kit was obtained from Duoset ELISA Development System of R & D Systems Europe Ltd. The readings were taken at 450nm using Organon Teknika Reader 230S. Statistical methods: Friedman test has been used for analysing IFN-gamma values. Results: Mean and SD values of IFN-gamma (in picograms per ml) for baseline (no exercise) was: 54.56 +/- 28.54 (log transformation: 1.68 +/- 0.23), for acute moderate exercise: 28.94 +/- 38.46 ( log transformation: 1.34 +/- 0.24), for acute strenuous exercise: 20.06 +/- 16.96 (log transformation: 1.18 +/- 0.33) and after one month of regular moderate exercise: 106.33 +/- 21.51 (log transformation: 2.02 +/- 0.09). The change in IFN-gamma. levels showed significant difference between; a) baseline and moderate exercise, b) baseline and strenuous exercise, c) moderate and strenuous exercise, d) strenuous exercise and end of one month of regular moderate exercise, e) baseline and end of one month of regular moderate exercise, f) moderate exercise and end of one month of regular moderate exercise. IFN-gamma showed overall significance between different grades of exercise (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Plasma IFN-gamma. decreases with one bout of acute moderate exercise, it decreases further with one bout of acute strenuous exercise and increases at end of one month of regular moderate exercise, which is more than baseline value. This shows that regular moderate exercise has beneficial effects on health by way of increasing plasma IFN-gamma level.