Differences in PBMC Mitochondrial Function Between Males and Females Based on Their Fitness Levels

Authors

Chloe Hooker, Loyola Marymount UniversityFollow
Robert Musci, Loyola Marymount UniversityFollow
Katey Spry, Loyola Marymount UniversityFollow
Ryan R. Moon, Loyola Marymount UniversityFollow

Abstract

This study investigates PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, mitochondrial function between men and women based on their fitness levels. Chronic exercise training improves immune function by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which stimulates an anti-inflammatory status. While acute bouts of exercise mobilize immune cells, specifically by increasing PBMC concentration through a process called demargination. Based on the positive effects of exercise, such as improving cardiovascular function, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, and muscle mass, then we would expect there to be a relationship between fitness level and PBMC mitochondrial function. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether there’s a difference in PBMC mitochondrial function between men and women due to differences in their fitness levels. METHODS: There was a total of 28 participants (13 females, 15 males, 21.84 ± 2.78 years old) recruited who provided a fasted blood sample followed immediately by a graded exercise test to measure VO2 max. PBMCs were isolated from the blood sample and then high-resolution respiration was used to measure mitochondrial respiratory capacity. RESULTS: The respiratory states show that VO2 max was higher in males than females, which was assumed to relate to the higher fitness levels of males observed (State 3 PGM= 0.886 pmol O2/sec/10^-6, 0.035 pmol O2/sec/10^-6; State 3 PGM S= 0.598 pmol O2/sec/10^-6, 0.126 pmol O2/sec/10^-6; ETS CI-CIV= 0.220 pmol O2/sec/10^-6, 0.0327 pmol O2/sec/10^-6). However, there is no relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and PBMC mitochondrial function. Not only were these relationships not statistically significant (p=0.589), the data reports low R² values (R²=0.053), which indicates there is a weak relationship between fitness and PBMC mitochondrial function. CONCLUSION: The differences seen in PBMC mitochondrial function between men and women can’t be attributed to differences in fitness levels that was previously assumed.

Recommended Citation

Hooker, Chloe; Musci, Robert; Spry, Katey; and Moon, Ryan R. (2025) "Differences in PBMC Mitochondrial Function Between Males and Females Based on Their Fitness Levels," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 5, Article 65.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss5/65