Innate immune response to anaeroob and aeroob exercise in rowing athletes

The most important change in immune response to exercise is the development of
leukocytosis with altered receptorexpression and a cytokine storm. The
functional characteristics of the leukocytosis is not yet understood. We
designed this study to gain insight in the innate immune response to exercise.
To test the response we use two very different forms of exercise (anaerobic vs.
aerobic) to objectify differences.
The hypothesis is that the human body reacts to damage after exercise
(mainly ini anaerobic exercsise) with a similar response as seen in trauma
patients. The validation of this innate immune activation has implication for
diagnosing inflammatory conditions in athletes such as exercise-induced asthma
or tendinitis. Moreover, the innate immune response could provide a read-out
for recovery after training.

Primary Objective:
To objectify the innate immune response to acute and prolonged exercise and get
insight in this response over time (hours).

Secondary Objective(s):
- Investigate the nature of the post-exercise leukocytosis
- Which leukocytes appear in blood and what are their characteristics?
- To test the inter-individual differences of response to exercise
- To test the difference in response to the acute and the endurance test

Observational pilot study

The exercised performed by these athletes does not differ from their daily
routine. The burden associated with this study is directly caused by the amount
of venipunctures (2x4). There is no direct benefit of participation for the
athletes, however progressive insight in immune activation leads to future
insight in 'normal/physiological' processes in contrast to pathophysiological
processes associated with disease.