Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Pathway Linking Obesity to Autoimmune Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: February 23, 2024
Exercise Diminishes Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain and Reroutes the Kynurenine Pathway in Multiple Sclerosis
Niklas Joisten1, Annette Rademacher1, Clemens Warnke1
1From the Department of "Performance and Health (Sports Medicine)" (N.J., A.S., D.W., P.Z.), Institute of Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund; Department for Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine (A.R., S.P., W.B.), Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sports Medicine, German Sport University Cologne; Department of Neurology (C.W.), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne; Center for Preventive Doping Research/Institute of Biochemistry (A.K., M.T.), German Sport University Cologne; Department of Neurology (F.S., S.B.), Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), and Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany; and Department of Neurology (R.G., J.K., J.B.), Clinics of Valens, Rehabilitation Centre Valens, Switzerland.
Objective:
To examine acute (single-bout) and training effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs standard exercise therapy (moderate continuous training [MCT]) on plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) and kynurenine (KYN) pathway of tryptophan degradation metabolites in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).
Methods:
Sixty-nine pwMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3.0-6.0) were randomly assigned to a HIIT or an MCT group. Changes in pNfL and KYN pathway metabolites measured in blood plasma were assessed before, after, and 3 hours after the first training session as well as after the 3-week training intervention.
Results:
Acute exercise reduced pNfL and increased the KYN pathway flux toward the neuroprotective kynurenic acid (KA). Changes in pNfL correlated positively with changes in KA and negatively with the quinolinic acid-to-KA ratio. HIIT consistently led to greater effects than MCT. Following the 3-week training intervention, the KYN pathway was activated in HIIT compared with MCT.
Conclusion:
Future studies and clinical assessments of pNfL should consider acute exercise as confounding factor for measurement reliability. Moreover, exercise-induced KYN pathway rerouting might mediate neuroprotection, potentially underlying the benefits in rehabilitation for pwMS.
Classification Of Evidence:
This study provides Class II evidence that acute HIIT diminishes pNfL and increases KA levels, and 3 weeks of HIIT activate the KYN pathway in pwMS.
Trial Registration Information:
Clinical trial registration number: NCT03652519.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:37Neural Regulation
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...