Elevated Plasma IL-6 Coincides with Activation of STAT3 in PBMC After Acute Resistance Exercise

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024 Nov 1;56(11):2117-2124. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003503.

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in plasma concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10, after acute resistance exercise (RE) have been widely explored. Whether observed changes in plasma cytokine concentration correspond to the activation of anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in immune cells after acute RE is unknown. This study aimed to determine if changes in plasma cytokines after acute RE resulted in the activation of anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Methods: Healthy young males (N = 16; age = 23.5 ± 2.7 yr; BMI = 22.4 ± 1.7 kg·m-2) participated in a single session of whole-body RE (4 sets of 4 different exercises at 70% 1-repetition maximum with the last set to failure) and a sedentary control (CON) condition in a randomized crossover design. Blood samples were collected at several time points before and after the exercise bout.

Results: Higher plasma IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1 RA concentrations were observed after RE compared with CON. Phosphorylation of STAT3 and protein expression of SOCS3 in PBMC were increased in RE compared with CON. The elevation of plasma IL-6, but not IL-10, coincided with the activation of STAT3 signaling in PBMC.

Conclusions: These results highlight a potential mechanism by which RE may exert anti-inflammatory actions in circulating immune cells.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05042167.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Over Studies*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10* / blood
  • Interleukin-6* / blood
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Phosphorylation
  • Resistance Training*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor* / blood
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein / blood
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Interleukin-10
  • Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • IL10 protein, human
  • SOCS3 protein, human

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT05042167