The antioxidant enzyme peroxiredoxin-2 is depleted in lymphocytes seven days after ultra-endurance exercise

Abstract

Purpose. Peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX-2) is an antioxidant and chaperone-like protein critical for cell function. This study examined whether the levels of lymphocyte PRDX-2 are altered over 1 month following ultra-endurance exercise. Methods. Nine middle-aged men undertook a single-stage, multi-day 233 km (145 mile) ultra-endurance running race. Blood was collected immediately before (Pre), upon completion/retirement (Post), and following the race at Day 1, Day 7 and Day 28. Lymphocyte lysates were examined for PRDX-2 by reducing and non-reducing SDS-PAGE with western blotting. In a sub-group of men who completed the race (n = 4), PRDX-2 oligomeric state (indicative of redox status) was investigated. Results. Ultra-endurance exercise caused significant changes in lymphocyte PRDX-2 (F_(4,32) 3.409, p = 0.020, η² = 0.299): 7 days after the race, PRDX-2 levels in lymphocytes had fallen to 30% of pre-race values (p = 0.013) and returned to near-normal levels at Day 28. Non-reducing gels demonstrated that dimeric PRDX-2 (intracellular reduced PRDX-2 monomers) was increased in three of four race completers immediately post-race, indicative of an ‘antioxidant response’. Moreover, monomeric PRDX-2 was also increased immediately post-race in two of four race-completing subjects, indicative of oxidative damage, which was not detectable by Day 7. Conclusions. Lymphocyte PRDX-2 was decreased below normal levels 7 days after ultra-endurance exercise. Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species induced by ultra-endurance exercise may underlie depletion of lymphocyte PRDX-2 by triggering its turnover after oxidation. Low levels of lymphocyte PRDX-2 could influence cell function and might, in part, explain reports of dysregulated immunity following ultra-endurance exercise.

Keywords::

• oxidative stress
• reactive oxygen species
• peroxiredoxins
• running-exercise human

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all of the volunteers who participated in this study and Nicholas Hurren, Sarah Jackman and Natalie Riddell for assistance with data collection.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

SJB and HRG gratefully acknowledge financial support from COST CM1001 and MARK-AGE (EU FP7 Large-scale integrating Project HEALTH-F4-2008-200880) for development of analytical methods for peroxiredoxin 2.

Funding: University of Birmingham UK.