Plasma levels of polymorphonuclear elastase and myeloperoxidase after uphill walking and downhill running at similar energy cost.

This study was designed to compare the effects of eccentric and concentric exercises on blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil count (nPMN) and plasma levels of myeloperoxidase ([MPO]) and elastase ([EL]) used as markers of neutrophil (PMN) activation. Ten healthy male subjects underwent 2 periods of exercise of 20 min duration each at 60% VO2max on an inclined treadmill. They initially walked up a 5% grade (UW). Ten days later they ran downhill on a 20% grade (RD). Blood samples were collected 10 min before and immediately after exercise. A postexercise sample was drawn after 20 min recovery. Both exercise bouts were accompanied by a similar and significant (p < 0.01) increase of 33% in nPMN above resting values. Baseline nPMN values were reached after 20 min recovery. There were no significant changes in [MPO] and [EL] following UW. In contrast, RD was followed by significant increases (p < 0.001) in [MPO] (+97%) and [EL] (+70%) above resting levels. While [MPO] returned to its pre-exercise level after 20 min recovery, [EL] remained significantly elevated (p < 0.05). These results clearly demonstrate the importance of the eccentric component of muscle contraction in exercise-induced PMN activation.