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Ultra Marathon Race Competition and Immune Function

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Heat Shock Proteins and Whole Body Physiology

Part of the book series: Heat Shock Proteins ((HESP,volume 5))

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Abstract

This chapter reviews key exercise immunology findings from five years of research on 350 athletes in the 160-km Western States Endurance Run (WSER), a point-to-point trail run in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. Until this series of studies on WSER ultra-marathoners, little was known regarding the response of the immune system to severe exertion. This chapter describes how the immune system responds to running 160 km and underlying mechanisms including oxidative stress, muscle damage, inflammation, endotoxemia, and ibuprofen use

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Abbreviations

ALT:

alanine aminotransferase

AST:

asparate aminotransferase

BMI:

body mass index

BUN:

blood urea nitrogen

CK:

creatine kinase

CRP:

C-reactive protein

DOMS:

delayed onset of muscle soreness

G-CSF:

granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

IgA:

immunoglobulin A

IL-6:

interleukin-6

LPS:

lipopolysaccharide

MCP-1:

monocyte chemoattractant protein 1

MIF:

macrophage migration inhibitory factor

MIP-1β:

macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta

NK:

natural killer

NSAIDS:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

RPE:

ratings of perceived exertion

TNF-α:

tumor necrosis factor-alpha

URTI:

upper respiratory tract infections

WSER:

Western States Endurance Run

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    David C. Nieman

  2. Department of Health and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, 111 River St., HCC 038, PO Box 32071, 28608, Boone, NC, USA

    David C. Nieman

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  1. David C. Nieman
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Correspondence to David C. Nieman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, Texas A & M University System, South 1st St. 1901, Temple, 76508, U.S.A.

    Alexzander A. A. Asea

  2. Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, Koebenhavn, 2100, Denmark

    Bente K. Pedersen

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Nieman, D.C. (2010). Ultra Marathon Race Competition and Immune Function. In: Asea, A., Pedersen, B. (eds) Heat Shock Proteins and Whole Body Physiology. Heat Shock Proteins, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3381-9_16

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