Abstract
PurposeThe present study aimed to investigate the effect of age on circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A secondary aim was to investigate whether a novel sprint interval training (SIT) intervention (3 × 20 s ‘all out’ static sprints, twice a week for 8 weeks) would affect inflammatory markers in older men.MethodsNine older men [68 (1) years] and eleven younger men [28 (2) years] comprised the younger group. Aerobic fitness and inflammatory markers were taken at baseline for both groups and following the SIT intervention for the older group.ResultsInterleukin (IL)-8, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were unchanged for the older and younger groups at baseline (IL-8, p = 0.819; MCP-1, p = 0.248; VEGF, p = 0.264). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) was greater in the older group compared to the younger group at baseline [142 (20) pg mL−1 and 60 (12) pg mL−1, respectively, p = 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.64]. Following SIT, older men decreased EGF to 100 (12) pg mL−1 which was similar to that of young men who did not undergo training (p = 0.113, Cohen's d = 1.07).ConclusionOlder aerobically trained men have greater serum EGF than younger aerobically trained men. A novel SIT intervention in older men can shift circulating EGF towards trained younger concentrations. As lower EGF has previously been associated with longevity in C. elegans, the manipulative effect of SIT on EGF in healthy ageing in the human may be of further interest.
Highlights
Human ageing involves a loss of function of multiple physiological systems, including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, and immunosenescence (Rebelo-Marques et al 2018)
We report on cytokines whereby > 75% of samples returned with values above the lower limit of detection
Ordinal analysis of the data suggests that pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-6 were more frequently observed in the older cohort, whilst classically anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-2 and IL-10 were more often observed quantifiable in the younger cohort
Summary
Human ageing involves a loss of function of multiple physiological systems, including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, and immunosenescence (Rebelo-Marques et al 2018). It has been reported the senescence-associated secretory phenotype is promoted by excess body fat associated with increased proinflammatory adipokines and cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-8, alongside cytokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), IFNγ, and TNFα (Christiansen et al 2005; Monzillo et al 2003; Sharabiani et al 2011; Vieira et al 2009) This is further compounded by decreased antiinflammatory myokine expression, which disrupts inflammatory balance, facilitating pathological developments, including insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative disease, and increased inflamm-ageing of all organs (Muller et al 2019). What is unknown is the influence of physical fitness, physical activity levels, and exercise training on EGF
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