Inflammatory Biomarkers' Response to Two Different Intensities of a Single Bout Exercise Among Soccer Players

Background: There is a strong relationship between physical inactivity and low-grade inflammation and its adverse health outcomes, particularly cardiovascular disease. The level of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines may be changed by exercise. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the response of certain inflammatory biomarkers to exercise with differences in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). These biomarkers were IL-1 beta, hs-CRP,1L-6, sICAM-1,1L-10, and ratios of TNF-alpha/IL-10 and 1L-6/IL-in circulating peripheral blood (PB). Materials and Methods: In a semi-experimental study, twenty male students who performed regular football exercise at least three days a week, for two years, were selected by easy sampling at Shahid Chamran university of Iran. Subjects were then randomly assigned to two groups: the protocol of the first group was 30 minutes of running at a speed of 65% of VO2max, and the second group performed six periodic repetitions with three minutes at a speed of 85% of VO2max a 90-second rest between the repetitions. Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately after the exercise and at rest. Cytokine levels were quantified by the Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: The first protocol resulted in a decrease of serum IL-1 beta to 3.77 +/- 0.28 pg/mL at rest, from 4.33 +/- 0.28 at baseline and 4.32 +/- 0.34 immediately after exercise (P = 0.008 and P = 0.013, respectively). There was also a decrease in the level of sICAM-1 to 260.11 +/- 15.64 ng/mL at rest, from 329.58 +/- 20.82 at baseline and 302.7 +/- 20.49 post exercise (P = 0.013 and P = 0.038, respectively). On the other hand, IL-6 and ratio of IL-6/IL-10 increased to 6.55 +/- 0.84 pg/mL and 2.12 +/- 0.37 immediately after exercise from baseline (2.73 +/- 0.58 and 1.16 +/- 0.33) and rest (2.49 +/- 0.45 and 0.95 +/- 0.19) in the second protocol (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively for IL-6, and P = 0.047 and P = 0.024, respectively for IL-6/IL-10). Conclusions: The data of the present study demonstrated that a single bout of exercise with higher-intensity induces a transient increase in some proinflammatory markers, and lower-intensity can reduce these biomarkers.