ABSTRACT
The effect of 8 weeks of bicycle training on the immune system was evaluated in 20 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. Resting levels of serum IL[6] [by ELISA] and serum Ig[G] [by single RID technique] were measured before and then after 8 weeks of training. The study revealed a highly statistical significant increase [P<0.01] in the concentration of serum IL-[6] in the healthy individuals after training compared to its resting [baseline] level [240.62 +/- 281.62 versus 102.5 +/- 209.11]. On the contrary, there was non-significant decrease [P>0.05] in the concentration of serum Ig[G] [23.97 +/- 0.23 versus 27.43 +/- 8.06]. The decrease in the post exercise concentration of serum IgG was significantly correlated with the age of individuals. In RA patients, 8 weeks bicycle training didn't induce any significant effect either on the concentration of serum IL-[6] [116.67 +/- 61.21] or Ig[G] [27.99 +/- 7.95] as compared to their pre-exercise levels [100 +/- 142.55, 29.97 +/- 61.21 respectively]. A significant positive correlation [P<0.05] was found between the post-exercise IL-6 levels and the disease duration and between post-exercise Ig[G] levels and the duration of morning stiffness. There was also a significant negative correlation [P< 0.05] between the difference in the concentration of serum IL-[6] and that of Ig[G] in relation to training. It can be concluded that 8 weeks bicycle training induced an enhancing effect on the cellular and not humoral immune system in healthy individuals. On the other hand, this training didn't influence either the cellular or humoral immune system of patients with RA