PLASMA-LEVELS OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR ELASTASE AND MYELOPEROXIDASE AFTER UPHILL WALKING AND DOWNHILL RUNNING AT SIMILAR ENERGY-COST

This study was designed to compare the effects of eccentric and concentric exercises on blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil count (nPMN) and plasma levels of myeloperoxidase ([MPO]) and elastase ([EL]) used as markers of neutrophil (PMN) activation. Ten healthy male subjects underwent 2 periods of exercise of 20 min duration each at 60 % VO2max on an inclined treadmill, They initially walked up a 5 % grade (UW). Ten days later they ran downhill on a 20 % grade (RD). Blood samples were collected 10 min before and immediately after exercise. A postexercise sample was drawn after 20 min recovery. Both exercise bouts were accompanied by a similar and significant (p < 0.01) increase of 33 % in nPMN above resting values. Baseline nPMN values were reached after 20 min recovery. There were no significant changes in [MPO] and [EL] following UW. In contrast, RD was followed by significant increases (p < 0.001) in [MPO] (+97 %) and [EL] (+70 %) above resting levels. While [MPO] returned to its pre-exercise level after 20 min recovery, [EL] remained significantly elevated (p < 0.05). These results clearly demonstrate the importance of the eccentric component of muscle contraction in exercise-induced PMN activation.