Gender differences in macrophage antiviral function following exercise stress.
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INTRODUCTION: In male mice, exhaustive exercise increases susceptibility to respiratory infection following intranasal inoculation with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), whereas moderate exercise decreases the risk of infection. These responses have been linked with altered macrophage antiviral resistance, among other immune mechanisms. Female mice appear to be better protected from death than male mice following HSV-1 infection, although their response to exercise stress is similar. The possible immune mechanisms, however, have not been explored. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine gender differences in macrophage antiviral resistance following repeated moderate and exhaustive treadmill exercise. METHODS: Male (M, N = 36) and female (F, N = 36) CD-1 mice were randomly assigned to moderate exercise (Mod), exhaustive exercise (Exh), or control (C) groups. Exercise was done daily for 3 d; moderate exercise consisted of treadmill running for 90 min, whereas exhaustive exercise consisted of running to volitional fatigue (approximately 50 min). RESULTS: Females had greater macrophage antiviral resistance to HSV-1 than males in C and Mod (P < 0.05), but not Exh; Mod increased resistance, whereas Exh decreased resistance similarly in both genders (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that altered macrophage antiviral resistance to HSV-1 may contribute to gender differences in in vivo resistance to HSV-1 respiratory infection at rest, as well as following moderate and exhaustive exercise.
