The physiological and mononuclear cell activation response to cryotherapy following a mixed martial arts contest: a pilot study

Cold water immersion is thought to reduce the inflammatory response to injury. Using cultured mononuclear cells and human subjects in a mixed martial arts (MMA) contest, we examined the effect of cryotherapy on 7,8-dihydroneopterin and neopterin generation. Urine was collected from 10 elite male mixed martial artists before, immediately post and 1, 2, 24 and 48 h following a contest. Myoglobin was analysed by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and urinary neopterin and total neopterin (neopterin+7,8-dihydroneopterin) were measured by strong cation exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Cold water immersion and passive recovery were compared using changes in these markers, while cryotherapy tested total neopterin production in γ-interferon and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated blood-derived mononuclear cells (monocytes/T cells). Myoglobin significantly increased (p