Plasma elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor after prolonged exercise.

The effects of a 2.5-h running test on the plasma concentrations of elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor were evaluated in eight healthy young male subjects. Neopterin was measured by radioimmunoassay, elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor by enzyme immunoassay. The post-exercise values were corrected for plasma volume changes which were calculated from hematocrit and hemoglobin values. Compared with the concentrations before exercise, elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin values were significantly increased during the run (1 h after the start) (P less than 0.01) as well as during the first few hours after the end of the running test (P less than 0.01). A significant increase of tumor necrosis factor and neopterin was observed 1 h after the end and 1,3, and 24 h after the end of the running test, respectively, (P less than 0.01), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations were significantly elevated 1 and 2 days after exercise (P less than 0.01). The increase of elastase-alpha 1-antitrypsin, neopterin, tumor necrosis factor, and soluble interleukin-2 receptor supports the concept of a functional involvement of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and an activation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes after prolonged exercise.