Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) are highly specialized antigen presenting cells that initiate and regulate immune responses. In our study, we analysed peripheral blood DC subsets and their maturation status in top sportsmen before and after intense physical load.
We evaluated the heart rate and draw blood samples before and after the physical load in 18 profesional ice hockey players. The numbers of myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs (mDC, pDC) and the expression of costimulatory moleculs CD80, CD83 and CD86 were measured by flow cytometry.
Leucocytosis with a predominant increase in the population of DCs and lymphocytes was observed after exercise. We detected a significant increase in both myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs numbers after an intense physical exercise.
We also show a correlation between the increase of DC count in the peripheral blood and serum adrenalin and nor-adrenalin levels. Increase in peripheral blood DCs also correlates with the degree of hearth rate increase during exercise.