Differential impacts of trail and ultra-trail running on cytokine profiles: An observational study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Skinner, Sarah^{a; b} | Nader, Elie^{a; b} | Stauffer, Emeric^{a; b; c} | Robert, Mélanie^{a; b; d} | Boisson, Camille^{a; b} | Cibiel, Agnès^d | Foschia, Clément^e | Feasson, Léonard^{e; f} | Robach, Paul^g | Millet, Guillaume Y^{e; h} | Connes, Philippe^{a; b; *}

Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité (LIBM) EA7424, Team “Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell”, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France | [b] Laboratoire d’Excellence du Globule Rouge (Labex GR—Ex), PRES Sorbonne, Paris, France | [c] Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Médecine du Sport et de l’Activité Physique, Hôpital Croix Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France | [d] Erytech Pharma, Lyon, France | [e] Univ Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Saint-Etienne, France | [f] Unité de Myologie, Service de Physiologie Clinique et de l’Exercice, Hôpital Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France | [g] National School for Mountain Sports, Site of the National School for Skiing and Mountaineering (ENSA), Chamonix, France | [h] Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Philippe Connes, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité (LIBM) EA7424, Team « Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell », Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, France. E-mail: pconnes@yahoo.fr; philippe.connes@univ-lyon1.fr.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Endurance running events are known to cause inflammation and result in increased cytokine production. However, the effects of ultramarathons on cytokine profiles are not well characterized. OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to describe and compare the effects of a trail (40 km) race and an ultra-trail (171 km) race on leukocyte concentrations and cytokine profiles. METHODS:The study was conducted during the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc® ultra-marathon running event, and included 11 runners who completed the 40 km trail run and 12 runners who completed the 171 km ultra-trail. Blood samples were taken before and after the races. RESULTS:Leukocyte concentrations significantly increased after both races. Circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and IFN-γ were significantly higher after the longer race compared to the shorter race. Furthermore, while both races resulted in significant increases in IL-6 and IL-8, only the longer race resulted in significant increases in MIP-1β, IL-7, IL-17a, and IL-4. CONCLUSIONS:These results illustrate that a 171 km ultra-trail race results in greater modulations in cytokine profiles than a traditional trail race.

Keywords: Running, exercise, ultra-trail, inflammation, cytokines profile, leukocytes

DOI: 10.3233/CH-211121

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 78, no. 3, pp. 301-310, 2021