Effects of maximal muscular exercise on TNFα:: Athletes -: Sedentary comparison

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important mediator of inflammation, besides, it has been shown that it is associated to many different auto-immune, infectious and tumoral diseases. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of maximal muscular exercise on the plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and to compare athletic and sedentary responses. Seven athletes and eight sedentary underwent a triangular effort exercise on an ergometer bicycle. Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Measurements showed a significant increase of TNF-alpha concentrations for both athletes and sedentary subjects. This increase is much more significant for athletes. It is estimated at 500% versus 200% for the sedentary. During intense physical activity, the muscle is injured and this process stimulates liberation of inflammatory cytokines by tissular macrophages. An overproduction of TNF-alpha engenders an excessive inflammatory response modifying then cytokine profile and this imply a less efficient immune response, a few hours or days after exercise.