Androgen Mediated Leukocyte Responses to Acute Resistance Exercise

Abstract

Testosterone is involved in anabolic and inflammatory pathways by way of its androgen receptor and associated cytokines. We examined androgen (AR), interferon‐γ (INF‐γR), and interleukin‐1 (IL‐1R2) receptor expression and mRNA on circulating leukocytes in response to resistance exercise. Eight resistance trained men (24.8±4.4 y; 91.2±12.4 kg; 14.2±4.1 % body fat) performed resistance exercise and a control test in a balanced, randomized order. Peripheral blood leukocytes were sampled at baseline (BL), immediately (IP), 2‐hours (2H), and 6‐hours (6H) post exercise. AR, INF‐γ R, and IL‐1R2 expression on circulating CD14+ monocytes was evaluated with flow cytometry and mRNA was evaluated with real‐time‐PCR. Time and treatment effects were analyzed with two‐way ANOVA followed by post‐hoc pairwise comparisons. Interactions (p<0.05) were observed for AR mRNA, AR expression, INF‐γR mRNA, and INF‐γR expression. AR mRNA in circulating leukocytes increased from BL at IP (6.22±3.02‐fold; p=0.004), 2H (5.92±2.52‐fold; p=0.002) and 6H (3.67±2.06‐fold; p=0.014) in the exercise trial. AR expression on CD14+ cells increased from BL to 2H in the exercise trial (p=0.045). INF‐γR mRNA in circulating leukocytes increased from BL to 2H (4.02±1.02‐fold; p=0.025) in the exercise trial (p=0.047). No significant interactions in IL‐1R2 mRNA or receptor expression were observed. Observed increases in mRNA content and expression for AR and INF‐γR on circulating leukocytes and CD14+ monocytes support the hypothesized role of testosterone in the acute inflammatory response to resistance exercise in men.