Background: Sauna bathing is claimed to provide benefits for patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The current study aims at analyzing the induction of potential regenerative processes by quantifying the mobilization of bone marrow-derived stem cells into the peripheral blood of healthy adults following Finnish sauna. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy unbiased male volunteers (20-30 years old) were exposed to a Finnish sauna bath (3 × 10 min, 90°C). Venous blood samples were drawn before (baseline), immediately, and 6 h as well as 24 h after the sauna bath. Blood analysis included isolation of mononuclear cells, cell staining with mononuclear antibodies, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). For baseline and 24 h post-sauna samples colony-forming unit-Hill assays were applied to quantify endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Results: Flow cytometry revealed an upregulation of circulating CD45+/CD309+ progenitor cells immediately after the sauna bath, however without reaching statistical significance. Circulating cell numbers of the CD45+CD34+, CD45+CD34+CD133+, and CD45+CD34+CD117+ populations did not show clear enhancements following sauna. EPC colony formation tended to be enhanced after sauna as compared to baseline values. Conclusion: Peripheral EPC numbers exhibited a moderate increase following Finnish sauna in a cohort of healthy young men. Furthermore, sauna bathing tended to increase EPC colony-forming capacity. These rather weak responses to thermotherapy might indicate a ceiling effect. In individuals exhibiting cardiovascular risk factors the effects may be more pronounced.

Journal Section:
Original Article · Originalarbeit
Keywords:
Endothelial progenitor cell, Mobilization, Sauna bath, Healthy adult
1.
Blum N, Blum A: Beneficial effects of sauna bathing for heart failure patients. Exp Clin Cardiol 2007;12:29-32.
[PubMed]
2.
Gayda M, Paillard F, Sosner P, Juneau M, Garzon M, Gonzalez M, Belanger M, Nigam A: Effects of sauna alone and postexercise sauna baths on blood pressure and hemodynamic variables in patients with untreated hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2012;14:553-560.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7176.2012.00637.x
3.
Michalsen A, Lüdtke R, Buhring M, Spahn G, Langhorst J, Dobos GJ: Thermal hydrotherapy improves quality of life and hemodynamic function in patients with chronic heart failure. Am Heart J 2003;146:728-733.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8703(03)00314-4
4.
Ikeda Y, Biro S, Kamogawa Y, Yoshifuku S, Eto H, Orihara K, Yu B, Kihara T, Miyata M, Hamasaki S, Otsuji Y, Minagoe S, Tei C: Repeated sauna therapy increases arterial endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production in cardiomyopathic hamsters. Circ J 2005;69:722-729.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1253/circj.69.722
5.
Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C: Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;39:754-759.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1097(01)01824-1
6.
Uemura R, Xu M, Ahmad N, Ashraf M: Bone marrow stem cells prevent left ventricular remodeling of ischemic heart through paracrine signaling. Circ Res 2006;98:1414-1421.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1161/01.RES.0000225952.61196.39
7.
You D, Waeckel L, Ebrahimian TG, Blanc-Brude O, Foubert P, Barateau V, Duriez M, Lericousse-Roussanne S, Vilar J, Dejana E, Tobelem G, Levy BI, Silvestre JS: Increase in vascular permeability and vasodilation are critical for proangiogenic effects of stem cell therapy. Circulation 2006;114:328-338.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.589937
8.
Takahashi T, Kalka C, Masuda H, Chen D, Silver M, Kearney M, Magner M, Isner JM, Asahara T: Ischemia- and cytokine-induced mobilization of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells for neovascularization. Nat Med 1999;5:434-438.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1038/7434
9.
Roberts N, Xiao Q, Weir G, Xu Q, Jahangiri M: Endothelial progenitor cells are mobilized after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2007;83:598-605.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.09.087
10.
Urbich C, Dimmeler S: Risk factors for coronary artery disease, circulating endothelial progenitor cells, and the role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Kidney Int 2005;67:1672-1676.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00261.x
11.
Laufs U, Werner N, Link A, Endres M, Wassmann S, Jurgens K, Miche E, Bohm M, Nickenig G: Physical training increases endothelial progenitor cells, inhibits neointima formation, and enhances angiogenesis. Circulation 2004;109:220-226.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000109141.48980.37
12.
Michowitz Y, Goldstein E, Wexler D, Sheps D, Keren G, George J: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and clinical outcome in patients with congestive heart failure. Heart 2007;93:1046-1050.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1136/hrt.2006.102657
13.
Vasa M, Fichtlscherer S, Aicher A, Adler K, Urbich C, Martin H, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S: Number and migratory activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells inversely correlate with risk factors for coronary artery disease. Circ Res 2001;89:E1-7.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1161/hh1301.093953
14.
Van Craenenbroeck EM, Conraads VM: Endothelial progenitor cells in vascular health: focus on lifestyle. Microvasc Res 2010;79:184-192.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2009.12.009
15.
Miyamoto H, Kai H, Nakaura H, Osada K, Mizuta Y, Matsumoto A, Imaizumi T: Safety and efficacy of repeated sauna bathing in patients with chronic systolic heart failure: a preliminary report. J Card Fail 2005;11:432-436.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2005.03.004
16.
Laufs U, Urhausen A, Werner N, Scharhag J, Heitz A, Kissner G, Bohm M, Kindermann W, Nickenig G: Running exercise of different duration and intensity: effect on endothelial progenitor cells in healthy subjects. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil 2005;12:407-414.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.hjr.0000174823.87269.2e
17.
Aicher A, Heeschen C, Mildner-Rihm C, Urbich C, Ihling C, Technau-Ihling K, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S: Essential role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase for mobilization of stem and progenitor cells. Nat Med 2003;9:1370-1376.
[PubMed]
https://doi.org/10.1038/nm948
© 2015 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
2015
You do not currently have access to this content.