Racial disparities have been demonstrated in athletic performance 1 and in the predisposition towards specific diseases.2 Immune/inflammatory pathways may be important in the pattern and/or progression of disease. 3,4 Research has demonstrated differences in the level of circulating immune/inflammatory markers as well as genotypic differences which may help to explain disease predisposition in specific racial groups. 3,4 In contrast, there is limited information relating to immune/inflammatory responses to exercise between racial groups. Such information is particularly relevant -strenuous exercise has been shown to alter immune/inflammatory responses predisposing athletes to infection and possibly injury, 5 which would ultimately impact on training and performance.Eccentric and/or strenuous unaccustomed exercise has been shown to elicit changes in skeletal muscle morphology.6 These changes are typically accompanied by increases in circulating creatine kinase (CK), local muscle swelling and soreness as well as alterations in circulating inflammatory markers such as leucocytes and cytokines. 7-9 Based on these observations, researchers have utilised exercise, particularly eccentrically biased exercise, to induce muscle damage and investigate immune/inflammatory sequelae.The key components of innate and adaptive immunity are the complement system and immunoglobulins, respectively. The complement system is composed of a number of proteins that are intricately involved in a variety of immune-related functions. Complement has been described as an important role player in cellular activation, chemotaxis, inflammation and clearance of immune complexes. [10][11][12] Immunoglobulins are crucial components of humoral immunity, having pathogen neutralisation and orIgInal research arTIcle complement, immunoglobulin and creatine kinase response in black and white males after muscle-damaging exercise abstract objectives. To determine the effect of eccentrically biased exercise and ethnic group on circulating levels of complement, immunoglobulin creatine kinase. Seven black and 8 white males (18 -22 years), active but untrained, participated in the study. Subjects performed a 60-minute downhill run on a treadmill (gradient -13.5%) at a speed eliciting 75% of their VO2 peak on a level grade. Venipunctures were performed before, immediately after and then at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours afterwards. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity, serum complement (C3, C4) and immunoglobulin (total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA) concentrations were compared using a repeated measures ANOVA.results. There was an interaction (p=0.0055) and ethnic group effect (p<0.0001) for CK activity with consistently higher levels in the black group. CK increased over time after the run, peaking at 12 h for both groups. C3, C4, total IgG, IgG1, IgG3, and IgA were significantly higher (ethnic group effect, p<0.001), and IgG2 significantly lower (ethnic group effect, p<0.001) in the black group. Significantly higher resting concentrations of total IgG...