Assessment of Selected Exercise-induced CD3(+) Cell Subsets and Cell Death Parameters Among Soccer Players

BACKGROUND: Molecular mechanisms of biological adaptation to training in professional soccer players are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of progressive physical effort on peripheral T-cells and their molecular response. METHODS: Thirteen soccer players form Pogo Szczecin S.A., a top league soccer club, (median age 21, range 18– 31, years old) performed progressive efficiency tests on a mechanical treadmill until exhaustion at the start (period 1) and the end (period 2) of a competition round. Venous blood T-lymphocyte subsets, selected hallmarks of cell death and plasma cytokine levels were determined by flow cytometry three times: pre-exercise, post-exercise, and in recovery. RESULTS: Although significant changes in T, Tc and Tc-naïve cell percentages were found in both periods, Th-naïve cell percentages were altered only in period 1. Post-exercise IL-10 plasma levels were higher than pre-exercise, while an increase in TNF-α levels was noticed in recovery from both periods. An increase in recovery IL-12p70 levels was observed in the second period. Increases in the percentage of T-cells with disrupted mitochondrial membrane potentials, elevated levels of phosphorylated H2AX histones and increases in early apoptotic T-cells were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: The immune system in soccer players creates space for naïve CD3(+)CD8(+) cells by inducing mechanisms of cell death. It seems that the cumulative effect of physical activity during a competition round induced an adaptive mechanism, since the cell death process was induced faster during period 2.