Fig. 4

LPS-stimulated PBMC cytokine production before and after walking. Cytokines (a) IL-6, (b) IL-8, (c) IL-1β and (d) TNFα in the 24 h supernatant of LPS-stimulated PBMC isolated pre and post walking. Individual pre- and post- samples are connected by lines. Cytokines in supernatants were assessed with ELISA and expressed as ng/mL. The assay sensitivity was 8 pg/mL for IL-1β, 31 pg/mL for IL-6 and TNF-α, and 312 pg/mL for IL-8. The net cytokine production was calculated as cytokine production of the stimulated sample minus the cytokine production of the non-stimulated sample. IL-6 and IL-8 were assessed in 12 walkers (8 males and 4 females). IL-1β and TNF-α were assessed in 6 walkers (4 males and 2 females). Statistical significance by Wilcoxon signed rank test is indicated as *p < 0.05