Neutrophil Adhesion Receptor Expression Following Resistance Exercise Is Unaffected By Menstrual Phase In Trained Women

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Abstract

The menstrual cycle is characterized by cyclical fluctuations in ovarian hormones (OH) that may modulate immunological responses to exercise. Early rodent investigations have demonstrated that OH can alter recruitment and infiltration dynamics in neutrophils; however, there is limited research characterizing how these hormones influence immune cell behavior during recovery from exercise in humans.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether menstrual phase impacts neutrophil adhesion receptor expression following a bout of resistance exercise in trained, eumenorrheic women.

METHODS: Eighteen women (22.2 ± 4.5 yrs, 163.92 ± 4.5 cm, 64.8 ± 10.2 kg) completed three resistance-exercise trials during the early follicular (EFP), late follicular (LFP), and mid-luteal (MLP) phases in a randomized order. Blood samples were collected prior to (PRE) and at 4-hours (4H) post-exercise. Samples were analyzed via a commercial hematology analyzer for changes in total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, while whole blood was stained with fluorescent monoclonal antibodies to quantify CD62L, CD11b, CD182, and CD31 expression on neutrophils via flow cytometry. Median fluorescence intensity (MFI) was analyzed at PRE while a distribution resolution metric (Rd) was calculated at 4H. Repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05) were performed to evaluate changes in MFI and cell counts, while Friedman tests with Bonferroni-adjusted Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (α ≤.0167) were performed for Rd.

RESULTS: Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts increased in response to exercise (p’s < .05). PRE MFI did not significantly differ between menstrual phases for all receptors (p’s >.05) Significant differences were observed in CD62L Rd expression across phases at 4H (χ2 (2) = 7.111, p =.029), with expression significantly higher in the LFP (Rd = 1.065) compared to the EFP (Rd=0.847; Z = -2.635, p =.008). No significant differences were observed between the LFP and MLP (Rd =0.958; p =.267), or between the EFP and MLP (p =.145). No significant differences were observed for CD11b, CD182, or CD31 Rd (p’s >.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual phase had a modest effect on neutrophil CD62L adhesion molecule expression at 4H, but not on other receptors. These findings suggest that OH may subtly modulate adhesion potential, rather than broadly altering acute immune responses.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Ovarian hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may modulate exercise immunology, but limited research characterizes how these hormones influence neutrophil adhesion receptor expression during post-exercise recovery in humans.

  • The Method: Eighteen trained, eumenorrheic women (22.2 ± 4.5 years, 163.92 ± 4.5 cm, 64.8 ± 10.2 kg) completed randomized resistance-exercise trials during early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases, with blood draws pre-exercise and 4 hours post-exercise analyzed via commercial hematology analyzer and flow cytometry for leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, and CD62L, CD11b, CD182, and CD31 receptor expression.

  • Quantitative Finding: Total leukocyte and neutrophil counts increased post-exercise (p's < .05); pre-exercise median fluorescence intensity did not differ across phases for any receptor (p's > .05); CD62L distribution resolution (Rd) differed significantly across phases at 4 hours post-exercise (\chi^2(2) = 7.111$, p = .029), with higher expression in the late follicular phase (\text{Rd} = 1.065) than the early follicular phase (\text{Rd} = 0.847; Z = -2.635, p = .008); CD62L Rd did not differ between late follicular and mid-luteal (\text{Rd} = 0.958; p = .267) or early follicular and mid-luteal (p = .145); CD11b, CD182, and CD31 Rd showed no significant phase differences (p's > .05).

  • Qualitative Finding: Menstrual phase exerted a modest, receptor-specific effect on neutrophil CD62L expression at 4 hours post-exercise without altering CD11b, CD182, or CD31, indicating ovarian hormones subtly modulate neutrophil adhesion potential rather than broadly altering acute immune responses.

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0001262060.26773.98

Publication Date

10-2026

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