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Published on: January 29, 2016
Effects of exercise training on some cytokine profiles in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and
Keyvan Hejazi1, Gholam Rasul Mohammad Rahimi2, Martin Hofmeister3
1Department of Sport Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.
Background:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, where inflammation plays a pivotal role in its pathophysiology. Exercise training has been proposed as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for managing MS. However, due to inconsistent findings in previous studies, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of long-term exercise interventions on the cytokine profile in patients with MS.
Methods:
Six electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar) were searched up to June 27, 2025. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise training on the levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in adult patients with MS were included. The quality of the articles was assessed using the PEDro scale, selecting studies with a score of 5 or higher. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model, with the effect size calculated as the Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) and a 95 % confidence interval (CI).
Results:
A total of 19 RCTs involving 569 participants (329 in the exercise group and 240 in the control group) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that exercise training significantly reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (SMD: -0.31, p = 0.02), IFN-γ (SMD: -0.73, p < 0.001) and IL-17 (SMD: -0.42, p < 0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in the levels of IL-4 (p = 0.82), IL-6 (p = 0.49), and IL-10 (p = 0.13).
Conclusions:
This meta-analysis provides robust evidence that structured exercise training can selectively modulate the inflammatory profile in patients with MS, primarily reducing the key cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17. These findings support the role of exercise as a complementary non-pharmacological therapy for managing inflammation in MS.
