Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2016) 41 EP824 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.41.EP824

ECE2016 Eposter Presentations Obesity (69 abstracts)

Pro-inflammatory cytokines responses to acute exercise in athletes and sedentary controls: association with body composition and insulin sensitivity

Marina Djelic 1, , Vladimir Trajkovic 2, , Mirjana Sumarac Dumanovic 3, , Sanja Mazic 1, , Tijana Durmic 1, , Rada Jeremic 1, , Ankica Bjelic 1, & Dragan Micic 3,


1Institute of Physiology, Belgrade, Serbia; 2Institute of Immunology, Belgrade, Serbia; 3Institute of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Belgrade, Serbia; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.


Balance between pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines is necessary for the physiological functioning of the immune system. A chronic systemic inflammation is one of the causes of insulin resistance in obesity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pro-inflammatory cytokines and visfatin response to an single bout acute exercise in athletes and non-athletes, as well as the possible relationship pro-inflammatory cytokines with body composition and insulin sensitivity.

Fifteen athletes with high percentage of body fat (the elite water polo players) and fifteen sedentary subjects participated in this study (age (years) 20±2; 20±1, respectively). All subjects were exposed to anthropometric measurements and one bout exercise test on treadmill in order to examine acute changes of cytokines. Blood samples were obtained at baseline levels, immediately after the exercise test and 30 minutes after recovery. Separated serum or plasma were used for cytokines (MIF, IL-17 and IFNγ) and hormone (visfatin, insulin) ELISA analysis and glucose measurement. Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated.

Only, IL-17 level was significantly higher at rest and at the end of the test in athletes compared to non-athletes (P<0.05). In athletes, MIF and visfatin concentration increased significantly after exercise, but in recovery visfatin reduced and MIF increased (P<0.05). IFNγ level in both groups was significantly lower in recovery compared to the end of the test (P<0.05). There is no significant correlation between the parameters of body composition and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the baseline values in both groups. In non-athletes, HOMA-IR was positively correlated with the level of IFNγ and IL-17 (P<0.05).

In conclusion, our findings show that acute exercise leads to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines in athletes. The positive correlation between pro-inflammatory cytokines and HOMA IR in sedentary subjects may indicate reduced insulin sensitivity and increased risk of earlier development of the metabolic syndrome.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.