Abstract

Background: One of the most challenging environmental extremes is immersion in cold/icy water, and consequent common assumption is that even a brief exposure to cold can lead to cold-related illnesses. The increase in the concentrations of the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (Epi), and norepinephrine (NE) in response to acute cold stress are thought to suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines. No previous study has explored the residual consequences of whole-body short-term cold-water immersion (CWI; 14 °C for 10 min) on the immune response in healthy non-acclimated young adult men (aged 20–30 years).

Materials and methods: In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that short-term acute whole-body CWI would induce high blood levels of cortisol, NE, and Epi, which in turn would increase circulating leukocyte numbers and delay the production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and IL-6).

Results: Short-term whole-body CWI produced a stressful physiological reaction, as manifested by hyperventilation and increased muscle shivering, metabolic heat production, and heart rate. CWI also induced the marked release of the stress hormones Epi, NE, and cortisol. The change in IL-6 concentration after CWI was delayed and TNF-α production was decreased, but IL-1β was not affected within 48 h after CWI. A delayed increase in neutrophil percentage and decrease in lymphocyte percentage occurred after CWI.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that, even though CWI caused changes in stress and immune markers, the participants showed no predisposition to symptoms of the common cold within 48 h after CWI.

摘要

背景：最具挑战性的极端环境之一是浸泡在冷/冰水中，因此普遍的假设是，即使是短暂接触寒冷也会导致与寒冷相关的疾病。应激激素皮质醇、肾上腺素 (Epi) 和去甲肾上腺素 (NE) 的浓度增加以响应急性冷应激被认为会抑制促炎细胞因子的释放。以前没有研究探讨全身短期冷水浸泡（CWI；14°C 10 分钟）对健康未适应的年轻成年男性（20-30 岁）免疫反应的残余影响。

材料和方法：在目前的研究中，我们检验了短期急性全身 CWI 会诱导高血皮质醇、NE 和 Epi 水平的假设，这反过来会增加循环白细胞数量并延迟促炎细胞因子的产生(肿瘤坏死因子 α (TNF-α)、白细胞介素 1β (IL-1β) 和 IL-6)。

结果：短期全身 CWI 产生了压力性生理反应，表现为换气过度和肌肉颤抖、代谢热产生和心率增加。CWI 还诱导应激激素 Epi、NE 和皮质醇的显着释放。CWI后IL-6浓度的变化延迟，TNF-α的产生减少，但IL-1β在CWI后48小时内不受影响。CWI 后出现中性粒细胞百分比延迟增加和淋巴细胞百分比减少。

结论：这些研究结果表明，即使 CWI 引起压力和免疫标志物的变化，参与者在 CWI 后 48 小时内没有表现出对普通感冒症状的易感性。