Kinetics of cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α and their relationship with serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations in adolescent swimmers throughout a training season

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study was to analyze the kinetics of the IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α cytokines and their relationship with the serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels of adolescent swimmers throughout a training season.

Methods: Nine male adolescent swimmers aged 16 to 19 years old, classified in stages 4-5 for pubic hair growth on the Tanner scale, were recruited as the study sample. All the procedures took place in the early phase (extensive phase), intermediate phase (intensive phase), and final phase (tapering) of the athletes’ season. At the beginning of each stage, the athletes were evaluated as follows: an anthropometric evaluation and blood samples were taken before and after a standardized training session (STS).

Results: It was possible to verify a strong and inversely proportional relationship between serum levels of IL-6 and IGF-I during the most intensive phase of training and an increase in serum concentrations of IGF-I and IL-10 during the tapering phase. Regarding the acute effects of training it was possible to identify differentiated kinetics only for the IGF-I values during the intensive phase and for the IL-10 values during the tapering phase.

Conclusion: IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IL-10 concentrations proved sensitive to both the acute or chronic effects of exercise. Thus, it can be suggested that these components may be used as important markers of the training condition of adolescent swimmers during their preparation throughout a season.

Keywords

• Biomarkers
• GH/IGF-I axis
• Cytokines
• Swimming
• Adolescents

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