Metabolic and immune/inflammatory alterations induced by a triathlon under extreme conditions

Cesar Miguel Momesso Santos; Jônatas Bussador Amaral; Marcelo Rossi; Rodolfo Paula Vieria; Cesar Cavinato Cal Abad; André Luis Lacerda Bachi

doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.915343

Metabolic and immune/inflammatory alterations induced by a triathlon under extreme conditions

Front Sports Act Living. 2022 Aug 17:4:915343. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.915343. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Cesar Miguel Momesso Santos^{1

2}, Jônatas Bussador Amaral³, Marcelo Rossi³, Rodolfo Paula Vieria^{4

5

6

7}, Cesar Cavinato Cal Abad^{8

9}, André Luis Lacerda Bachi^{3

10}

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Cruzeiro Do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Faculty ENAU, Ribeirão Pires, SP, Brazil.
³ ENT Lab, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁴ Post-graduation Program in Human Movement and Rehabilitation and in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Evangelical University of Goias (Unievangélica), Anápolis, GO, Brazil.
⁵ Brazilian Institute of Teaching and Research in Pulmonary and Exercise Immunology (IBEPIPE), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
⁶ Post-Graduation Program in Bioengineering, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁷ Post-Graduation Program in Sciences of Human Movement and Rehabilitation, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brazil.
⁸ Reference Center of Sport Science - Social Service of Industry (SESI), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
⁹ Faculty Lusófona, Cotia, Brazil.
¹⁰ Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of triathlon racing under extreme conditions on metabolic and immune/inflammatory responses.

Methods: Thirteen amateur athletes participated in an extreme triathlon competition (swim - 3.8 km; cycling - 180 km; running - 4 2 km; with a 3,700 m accumulated altitude). Blood samples were collected on three different occasions: pre-competition (baseline), immediately post-competition (IM), and 12 h post-competition (12 h) to evaluate glycemic and lipid profiles, leukocytes count, and cytokines levels in plasma and in whole-blood cell culture supernatant stimulated or not with LPS.

Results: Decreased glucose and triglycerides levels, increased LDL, and a significant leukocytosis were observed at IM and 12 h compared to baseline. In addition, higher serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were found at IM than in baseline and post-12 h. Whereas increased IL-12p40 levels were observed for 12 h compared to baseline. At baseline, in LPS-stimulated cell culture, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12p70 were higher, while IL-12p40 levels were lower than non-stimulated cell culture. At IM, IL-12p40 levels were unchanged, while higher levels of other cytokines were found in LPS-stimulated cell culture compared to non-stimulated cell culture. The 12 h results showed higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in LPS-stimulated cell culture than in non-stimulated cell culture. Additionally, a significant negative correlation between circulating glucose levels and IL-6 was found.

Conclusion: The triathlon competition's performance under extreme conditions has remarkable impacts on the lipid profile and systemic immune/inflammatory responses. For the first time, significant alterations in the cytokine responses of whole blood cell culture to LPS-stimulation in baseline, IM, and 12h were demonstrated.

Keywords: cycling; cytokines; exercise immunology; exercise physiology; strenuous exercise.