Exercise training-induced changes in inflammatory mediators and heat shock proteins in canoeists

According to cytokine overtraining theory, skeletal muscle injuries are related to systemic inflammatory reaction. In response to inflammation, cells rapidly produce a series of proteins known as heat shock proteins (HSPs).These are considered to be molecular chaperones which play a universal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Among the subset of stress-responsive proteins, HSP27 and HSP70 are considered to be a new approach to monitoring exercise training and adaptive mechanisms. The study was designed to demonstrate the effect of sport training on changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines and HSPs, and their relation with muscle damage and body composition. Six elite canoeists (19.8 ±2.9 yr) were observed during preparatory training period (March) at the 1st, the 4th and after 7 days of the conditioning camp, and then after 3 days of recovery. The canoeing training did not induce muscle damage, decreased in IL-1β and HSP27, increased in TNFα and HSP70 concentrations. The highest changes in TNFα and HSP70 were observed 3 days after conditioning camp (during recovery) compared to initial level (the 1st day of conditioning camp). TNFα correlated with HSP27 (r = –0.563; P < 0.01) and HSP70 (r = 0.651; P < 0.001). Any significant changes in body composition were not observed. In conclusion, we could say that typical canoeing training improves cytokines and HSPs release, however, the changes are not related to muscle damage.