Authors: Cox, Amanda¹; Pyne, David²; Gleson, Maree³; Callister, Robin³

Source: European Journal of Applied Physiology, Volume 103, Number 4, July 2008 , pp. 477-479(3)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Measurement of IL-6 has been widely undertaken to examine inflammatory and immune responses to exercise. Use of salivary IL-6 offers an alternative to the invasive collection procedures required for IL-6 measurement in plasma samples. Rarely, however, has the degree of association between plasma and salivary IL-6 been reported. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between resting salivary and plasma IL-6 concentrations in 45 trained distance runners (36 males, 9 females; age: 35.1 ± 8.0 y, mean ± SD). Plasma and saliva samples were collected from athletes under resting conditions. Plasma IL-6 concentrations were determined using a Bioplex suspension array system and commercially available reagents. Salivary IL-6 concentrations were determined using a commercially available high-sensitivity ELISA kit. At rest, the mean (± SD) plasma IL-6 concentration was 3.43 ± 3.75 pg mL⁻¹ compared to a mean salivary IL-6 concentration of 1.80 ± 4.25 pg mL⁻¹. IL-6 concentrations in plasma and saliva samples were not correlated (r = −0.031, p = 0.85). At rest, salivary IL-6 concentrations do not reflect plasma IL-6 concentrations. The potential for salivary IL-6 to act as a surrogate marker for plasma IL-6 responses when examining inflammatory and immune responses to exercise, therefore, appears unlikely.

Keywords: Cytokines; Immunity; Athletes; Exercise

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0722-x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, PO Box 176, Canberra, Belconnen, ACT, 2616, Australia, Email: amanda.cox@ausport.gov.au 2: Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, PO Box 176, Canberra, Belconnen, ACT, 2616, Australia 3: School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

Publication date: 2008-07-01

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