INTRODUCTION: Physical activity is a strong Stimulus for the body which can induce tissue damage and tissue remodelling. Both processes are strongly connected with the activity of stem and progenitor cells. It was shown the endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may have impact on endothelial tissue repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can support the repair of muscle, bone, and cartilage tissues. Recent studies showed the influence of physical activity on EPC [1J and MSC [2]. As altitude is an often chosen Stimulus in various sports, such as CC-skiing, swimming and rowing the aim of our study was to analyze the effect of a conventional altitude training camp (LH-TH) on the migratory activity of MSC. METHOD: Highly trained junior swimmers (8 subjects both experimental and contra! group) participated in the study. The athletes of the experimental group underwent a three week altitude training camp at 2300 meters above see level following the "living high training high" design. Before the training camp, two incremental tests on a cycle ergometer under sea level conditions and under artificial hypoxic conditions with 2 blood samples (before and after, respectively) were carried out. Incremental tests were repeated twice during the training period and in the first and second week after the training camp. The same protocol was carried out in both groups. Chemokines like basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by ELISA. The blood samples were also used for migration assay of MSCs. RESULTS: VEGF concentration was higher after each incremental lest, but there was no additional effect cause by the hypoxic training. For bFGF no acute changes were induced by physical activity, the highest values were reached during the altitude camp. After each incremental test the migratory activity of mesenchymal stem cells were higher. Significant changes were observed for the altitude group during and after the training camp. D1SCUSSION: In this study it could be shown demonstrated that the migratory activity of mesenchymal stem cells is more influenced by exercise than by hypoxic training. Whether that is a general trend or the used level of hypoxia was too low or if a different training design (LL-TH) has more influence should be in the focus of further investigations.
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