76. The influence of running volume on CD4+ T cell subpopulations and the role of stress

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of stress on exercise-induced immune changes. Twenty-nine recreational runners were recruited for this study. Each recorded the number of miles that they ran in the week leading up to the study visit, completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and donated blood for assessment of CD4+ T cell subpopulations and cytokine production. Participants ran an average of 30 (13.4) miles per week and had average STAI and PSWQ scores of 32.6 (12.6) and 40 (16.6), respectively. Average values (SD) for immune biomarkers were as follows: Treg, 3.2% (1.2); Tr1, 27.1% (8.3); Th3, 7.4 (6.1); IFNγ, 32,027 pg/ml (26,404); IL4, 8.1 pg/ml (13.7); IFNγ/IL4, 10,610 (12,485); IL10, 512 pg/ml (288). Overall, there were significant correlations between Treg and running volume (beta = 0.051%, p = 0.002) and IL10 production and running volume (beta = −10.57 pg/ml, p = 0.007), and a borderline significant correlation between Tr1 and running volume (beta = −0.198%, p = 0.093). High levels of anxiety and worry were associated with a significant negative correlation between Tr1 and running volume and a significant positive correlation between IFNγ and running volume while low levels of anxiety and worry were not. These data indicate that high levels psychological stress can potentiate immunological changes resulting from endurance-based exercise.