Acute and chronic effects of exercise on tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 869 - 875
• Main Authors: Duclos, M, Gouarne, C, Bonnemaison, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01-03-2003; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood Volume - physiology; Dexamethasone - pharmacology; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucocorticoids - pharmacology; Hormones - metabolism; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Life Sciences; Lipopolysaccharides - antagonists & inhibitors; Male; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - metabolism; Muscular system; Physical Fitness - physiology; Rest - physiology; Saliva - metabolism; Sensitivity; Tissues; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Physical exercise; Human; hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis; monocytes; Physical training; Monocyte; Hypothalamohypophysoadrenal axis; endurance training; Circadian rhythm; immunoendocrine adaptations; Glucocorticoid; Interleukin 6; Sensitivity; Hormonal regulation; Endurance; AXE HYPOTHALAMO-HYPOPHYSAIRE; SURRENALE; CORTISOL
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00108.2002

1  Laboratoire Neurogénétique et Stress,
INSERM U471, Institut François Magendie, Université
Bordeaux II, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex; and 2  Laboratoire
d'Immunologie Moléculaire, Université Bordeaux II,
33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France
The aim of this study was to address
the effect of endurance training on tissue sensitivity to
glucocorticoids (GC) in both resting and exercising conditions. In
vitro dexamethasone inhibition of LPS-induced interleukin-6 secretion
in cultures of peripheral monocytes was compared in untrained subjects
(UT) and in endurance-trained men (ET) at the end of a 2-h run and
during exercise recovery. We demonstrated an in vitro plasticity of
sensitivity of monocytes to GC in ET men, superimposed to changes in
systemic cortisol concentrations (plasma and saliva). Compared with
sedentary men, similar resting cortisol levels in ET men are associated
with decreased sensitivity of monocytes to GC 8 and 24 h after the end of the last training session ( P  < 0.05, ET vs.
UT). Moreover, in these ET subjects, an acute bout of exercise
increased the sensitivity of monocytes to GC (at 1000 and 1200; ET vs.
UT, P   > 0.05). This acute exercise-induced increase in
tissue sensitivity to GC, which is synchronous with activation of the
hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis, may act to shut off muscle
inflammatory reaction and cytokine synthesis and then decrease
exercise-induced muscle damage or inflammatory response. By contrast,
the decreased sensitivity of monocytes to GC reported in ET men 24 h after the last bout of exercise may be related to the process of
desensitization that may act to protect the body from prolonged,
exercise-induced cortisol secretion. These acute and chronic effects of
exercise on tissue sensitivity to GC demonstrate an adaptation of the
hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis to repeated and prolonged
exercise-induced increases in GC secretion.
endurance training; hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis; monocytes; immunoendocrine adaptations