Dru A. Henson
Professor
Assistant Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Ph.D., Wake Forest University
Theses Directed
Classes Taught
My research interests generally lie in the area of immune function as it is affected by physical activity and nutritional status. Much of my recent work has focused on the acute effects of various modes (running, cycling, rowing) of high-intensity, long endurance exercise on innate and adaptive immune function. We have shown that athletes engaging in 2 hours or more of intense exercise experience a significant, but transient depression in immune function, including reductions in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, in vitro natural killer cell cytotoxicity, and salivary IgA concentrations. In addition, the tissue injury that results from this exercise elicits a strong pro-inflammatory response characterized by elevations in plasma IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. Also evident are significant increases in plasma cortisol and Il-1ra suggesting that anti-inflammatory processes are also at work. Presently, we are attempting to localize the tissue source(s) of these cytokines by measuring mRNA in skeletal muscles and blood mononuclear cells. Another research objective is to determine whether this "open window" of altered immunity is linked to the higher incidence of clinical infection that is reported in the athletes during the 2 weeks following the exercise. In addition, we are investigating various nutritional interventions that may alter the immune changes described above. We have recently shown that carbohydrate supplementation by marathon runners before, during and after a race attenuates the stress hormone (cortisol) response and this in turn, has an effect on diminishing immunosuppression. We are presently investigating the potential benefits of vitamin C ingestion on these immune changes. Whether these intervention strategies positively influence the incidence of infection in the athletes remains to be established. Another primary area of interest involves the effects of obesity and weight loss on immune function.
Carbohydrate supplementation attenuates the post-marathon elevation in IL-10.
Selected Publications
Henson, D.A., Nieman, D.C., Parker, J., Rainwater, M.K., Butterworth, D.E., Warren, B.J., Utter, A., Davis, J.M., Fagoaga, O.R., and Nehlsen-Cannarella, S.L. (1998) Carbohydrate supplementation and the lymphocyte proliferative response to long endurance running. International Journal of Sports Medicine 19:574-580.
Nieman, D.C., Henson, D.A., Nehlsen-Cannarella, S.L., Ekkens, M.J., Utter, A.C., Butterworth, D.E., and Fagoaga, O.R. (1999) Influence of obesity on immune function. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 99:294-299.
Henson, D.A., Nieman, D.C., Blodgett, A.D., Butterworth, D.E., Utter, A., Davis, M.J., Sonnenfeld, G., Morton, D.S., Fagoaga, O.R., and S.L. Nehlsen-Cannarella. (1999) Influence of exercise mode and carbohydrate on the immune response to prolonged exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine 9:213-228.
Henson, D.A., Nieman, D.C., Nehlsen-Cannarella, S.L., Fagoaga, O.R., Shannon, M., Bolton, M.R., Davis, J.M., Gaffney, C.T., Kelln, W.J., Austin, M.D., Hjertman, J.M.E., and Schilling, B.K. (2000) Influence of carbohydrate ingestion on cytokine and phagocytic responses to two hours of rowing. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 32(8):1384-1389.
Nieman, D.C., Henson, D.A., Smith, L.L., Utter, A.C., Vinci, D.M., Davis, J.M., Kaminsky, D.E., and Shute, M. (2001) Cytokine changes after a marathon race. Journal of Applied Physioloygy. In press.
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