Differences in the inflammatory plasma cytokine response following two elite female soccer games separated by a 72-h recovery H. Andersson 1 , S. K. Bøhn 2 , T. Raastad 3 , G. Paulsen 3 , R. Blomhoff 2 , F. Kadi 1 1 School of Health and Medical Sciences, O ¨ rebro University, O ¨ rebro, Sweden, 2 Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, 3 Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway Corresponding author: Helena Andersson, School of Health and Medical Sciences, O ¨ rebro University O ¨ rebro 701 82, Sweden. Tel: 146 1930 1245, Fax: 146 1930 3486, E-mail: helena.andersson@oru.se Accepted for publication 18 May 2009 We investigated changes in a large battery of pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines in elite female soccer players fol- lowing two 90-min games separated by a 72-h active or passive recovery. Blood samples were taken from 10 players before, within 15–20 min, 21, 45 and 69 h after the first game and within 15–20 min after the second game. The leukocyte count was analyzed, together with several plasma pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, using a multiplex bead array system. After the first and second game, the total leukocytes and neutrophils increased significantly. Likewise, increases (Po0.05) in pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)- 12, tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interferon-c (INF-c), IL-17], chemokines [monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-8 and monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG)], anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2R, IL-4, IL-5, IL-7, IL-10, IL-13, INF-a) and the mixed cytokine IL-6 were observed. Leukocyte and cytokine levels were normal- ized within 21 h. Active recovery (low-intensity exercises) did not affect the cytokine responses. A dampened cytokine response was observed after the second game as only IL-12, IL-6, MCP-1, IL-8 and MIG increased (Po0.05). In conclusion, a robust pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine response occurs after the first but not the second soccer game. The implications of the dampened cytokine response in female players after the second game are unknown. In soccer, players have to perform weekly in compar- ison with some individual sports comprising only a few large competitions per year. A competitive soccer season includes one to two games per week in addition to several training sessions. In women competitive soccer tournaments, games are played even more frequently, allowing for only 2 days of recovery between games. Competitive soccer affects the muscu- loskeletal, nervous, immune and metabolic systems (Reilly & Ekblom, 2005). We have previously reported that several neuromuscular parameters are affected for up to 69 h after an elite female soccer game (Anders- son et al., 2008). For instance, the isokinetic knee strength was reduced up to 45h after a first game and jump performance did not recover before the start of a second game played 72 h after the first one. Further- more, changes in CK levels and perceived muscle soreness lasted up to 69 h after the first soccer game (Andersson et al., 2008). These findings show that several physiological parameters are disturbed after a soccer game. This, in turn, may trigger a systemic immune response that leads to the secretion of cyto- kines by inflammatory cells (Ostrowski et al., 1999). Few studies are available on the cytokine response following soccer games (Bishop et al., 2002; Ascen- sa˜o et al., 2008; Ispirlidis et al., 2008). An increased leukocyte count and increased levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) have been shown in male soccer players (Bishop et al., 2002; Ascensa˜o et al., 2008; Ispirlidis et al., 2008). It has also been shown that 5 days of consecutive soccer training in youth male players decreased T and B cell numbers, possibly affecting their capability to acti- vate the immune system and resist infections (Malm et al., 2004a). Cytokines are potent intercellular signaling mole- cules that regulate the inflammation response (Su- zuki et al., 2003). It has been shown that the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine response after endurance exercise can be balanced by the production of anti- inflammatory cytokines (Ostrowski et al., 1999). To our knowledge, a comprehensive evaluation of the cytokine response following a soccer game is lacking and the time course of the pro- and anti-inflamma- tory cytokine responses between two games has never been addressed. Furthermore, the cytokine response has never been documented in female soccer players. Consequently, a thorough evaluation of the inflam- matory response in female soccer players would provide new insights into the physiological altera- tions occurring during soccer games and the subse- quent recovery periods. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2009 & 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00989.x 1