Salivary TNF-α and IFN-γ Response to a Collegiate Football Game and Playing Season.

Abstract

1749 Some aspects of cellular immune function have been shown to decline in response to a competitive athletic event or season, while heavy athletic training appears to be associated with systemic inflammation as evidenced by elevated serum inflammatory cytokines. PURPOSE: To assess the influence of participation in a competitive collegiate football season and a single football game on salivary inflammatory cytokine response. METHODS: Saliva was collected from NCAA Division I football athletes before (T1 = resting preseason) and after (T4 = resting, 1 week postseason) a competitive collegiate football season, and 24 hrs before (T2 = resting pre-game) and after (T3 = within 1 hr post-game) a single competitive football game during midseason. Unstimulated saliva was collected for ten minutes while subjects “drooled” into sterile tubes. Samples remained on ice until centrifugation and were then stored at −80°C until analysis. Samples were analyzed for IFN-γ and TNF-α using ELISA. Subjects were grouped by number of downs to assess the influence of a single game on salivary cytokines (Grp1 = 0, Grp 2 = 1–10, Grp 3 = 11+ downs). RESULTS: No differences existed among groups at any time point for salivary IFN-γ and TNF-α; therefore groups were collapsed for further statistical analysis. Participation in a competitive football game had no influence on salivary TNF-α (N = 12, T2 = 4.3 ± .92, T3 = 5.9 ± 2.6 pg·mL−1; p > 0.05); however, there was a tendency for an increase in salivary IFN-γ levels (N = 13, T2 = 14.9 ± 3.7, T3 = 32.6 ± 8.8 pg·mL−1; p = 0.07). Resting salivary TNF-α concentrations tended to increase over a competitive collegiate football season (N = 11, T1 = 3.68 ± 0.64, T4 = 7.9 ± 2.1 pg·mL−1, p = 0.058); whereas resting salivary IFN-γ was significantly elevated after the competitive season (N = 16, T1 = 15 ± 2.8, T4 = 40.5 ± 7.5 pg·mL−1; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The observed elevation in salivary cytokine levels after a competitive collegiate football season indicate a chronic systemic or oral inflammation and are similar to changes observed in serum consequent to heavy training.