PURPOSE We investigated the effect of the racemic $\beta$-hydroxybutyrate precursor,R,S-1,3-butanediol (BD),on T-cell-related cytokine gene expression within stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) following prolonged,strenuous exercise. METHODS A repeated-measures,randomised,crossover study was conducted in nine healthy,trained male cyclists (age,26.7 ± 5.2 years; VO2peak,63.9 ± 2.5 mL kg-1 min-1). Participants ingested 0.35 g kg-1 of BD or placebo 30 min before and 60 min during 85 min of steady-state (SS) exercise,which preceded a {\~{}} 30 min time-trial (TT) (7 kJ kg-1). Blood samples were collected at pre-supplement,pre-exercise,post-SS,post-TT and 1-h post-TT. Whole blood cultures were stimulated with Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) for 24 h to determine T-cell-related interleukin (IL)-4,IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ mRNA expression within isolated PBMCs in vitro. RESULTS Serum cortisol,total circulating leukocyte and lymphocyte,and T-cell subset concentrations were similar between trials during exercise and recovery (all p {\textgreater} 0.05). BD ingestion increased T-cell-related IFN-$\gamma$ mRNA expression compared with placebo throughout exercise and recovery (p = 0.011); however,IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression and the IFN-$\gamma$/IL-4 mRNA expression ratio were unaltered (all p {\textgreater} 0.05). CONCLUSION Acute hyperketonaemia appears to transiently amplify the initiation of the pro-inflammatory T-cell-related IFN-$\gamma$ response to an immune challenge in vitro during and following prolonged,strenuous exercise; suggesting enhanced type-1 T-cell immunity at the gene level.
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