Involvement of neutrophils in exercise-induced muscle damage and its modulation

Abstract

Neutrophils not only play a critical role in host defense by migrating to the site of infection and producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), but also mediate pathological processes involved in tissue destruction and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it is important to assess and modulate neutrophil activities. In the present article, I would like to share some of our research on neutrophils in relation with exercise and muscle damage. I will begin with my early studies on neutrophil functional analyses and a newly developed measurement system. Then, some key data about effects of exercise, antioxidant modulation, mechanisms of exercise- induced muscle damage, and possible preventive countermeasures targeting pathogenesis are described herein. Introduction