ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2023 November;63(11):1227-34

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.23.15001-8

Copyright © 2023 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Molecular investigation of the effect of weightlifting training on helper T cell subsets in female weightlifting athletes: an immune profiling panel

Tuğçe DURAN ¹, Mehmet A. KARASELEK ² ✉, Serkan KUCCUKTURK ³

¹ Department of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, KTO Karatay University, Konya, Türkiye; ² Meram School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Türkiye; ³ Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Türkiye

BACKGROUND: In this study, it was aimed to molecularly investigate the changes in the helper T (Th) cell subgroups of intense weightlifting training. For this purpose, transcription factor and cytokine expressions of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulator T cell (Treg) cells were evaluated.
METHODS: Eight elite weightlifting athletes were included in the study. Within the scope of the study, transcription factor and cytokine expressions of Th cell subgroups were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method before training, after intense training with 90-100% capacity, and after 120 minutes of rest from training.
RESULTS: As a result of the study, when the pre-training and post-training expressions were compared, an increase in Th1 and Th2 cell factors and a decrease in Th17 and Treg cell-related expressions were detected. These changes were statistically significant (P<0.05). The changes in expressions after training and after 120 minutes of rest were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Changes have been detected in Th cell subgroups due to intense weightlifting training, and these changes are the first study conducted with female weightlifters.

KEY WORDS: Th1 cells; Th2 cells; Th17 cells; Regulatory T-lymphocytes; Weight lifting