Aim of the study: The aim of our research was to examine the influence of single whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) on chosen immune system indicators including the heat shock protein HSP-70.
Material and methods: The study was carried out among ten young and healthy men (mean age 22.4 ±1.65, with a body mass index of 22.91 ±2.39 kg/m2). The participants were subjected to single whole-body cryostimulation (at -130°C temperatures) in a special cryogenic chamber for 3 minutes. Blood samples were collected three times: before cryostimulation, 30 minutes and 24 hours after WBC. Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM), interleukins (IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β) and the heat shock protein (HSP-70) were determined in the blood serum.
Results: As a result of a single exposure to cryogenic temperatures, a significant increase in the level of IL-6 was observed 30 minutes after the WBC (p < 0.05) and a decrease in the level of HSP-70 24 hours after the treatment (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the level of interleukins (IL-10, IL-1β) or immunoglobulins 30 minutes after a single WBC treatment or 24 hours later.
Conclusions: Detailed analysis of the issue shows that a single application of whole-body cryostimulation causes a small, modulating effect on the IL-6 level. Single whole-body cryostimulation treatment has also a slight silencing effect on the HSP-70 level in healthy, young men. Reduction in the concentration of HSP-70 24 hours after WBC may indicate lack of the damaging impact on the spatial structure of the protein due to cryogenic temperatures.
Keywords: cold exposure; cold-stress response immunology; cryogenic temperatures; heat shock proteins-70; immunoglobulins; interleukin.