Abstract
The aim of this work is to identify the effect of maximal physical exercise on pro-inflammatory cytokines serum concentrations. The study has been carried on 7 endurance-trained athletes, 7 resistance-trained athletes, and 7 untrained subjects. Each subject has undergone two track races up to exhaustion. The first race is a continuous incremental event (VAMEVAL test), the second one is also continuous but with a constant intensity (Time-Limited test). Two blood samples were taken after each test, at rest and immediately after the effort. Results have shown many effects of maximal physical exercise on pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations. Indeed, IL-1 beta level increased significantly in all groups under the two tests (p=0.018 for al.). The untrained subjects had the lowest concentrations but differences were not statistically significant, and endurance-trained athletes values were more important after the Time-Limited test (p-0.017). Significant increase in circulating IL-6 was also noted after the two events in all subjects (p=0.018). A substantial superiority, in favor of untrained subjects was observed after the incremental event (p=0.017); and no differences were found between athletes. Data were more important after the Time-Limited test at untrained subjects (p=0.028), and at resistance-trained athletes (p=0.018). A substantial correlation between the IL-6 concentration and maximal aerobic speed was observed after the constant intensity exercise test (r=-0.487; p=0.025). A significant changes in TNF alpha serum concentrations were also found after the two exercise tests in all groups (p=0.018). A significantly differences were noted between endurance-trained athletes and the other two groups (p=0.018 for al.); and no differences were found between resistance-trained athletes and the untrained subjects. In the end of the incremental event, a significant correlation was noted between the TNF alpha level and maximal aerobic speed (r=-0.562; p=0.008).