title: Cytokine responses to resistance training in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Exercise for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been shown to improve cardiovascular function, increase strength and endurance, and reduce fatigue. The impact of exercise on immune function in the disease, however, remains mostly unexplored. Ten female MS patients participated in an 8 week programme of twice-weekly progressive resistance training, with pre- and post-training assessment of serum concentrations of cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, CRP, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. After training, IL-4, IL-10, CRP and IFN-gamma showed statistically reduced resting concentrations in blood, while TNF-alpha showed non-significant reductions and IL-2 and IL-6 remained unchanged. These results suggest that progressive resistance training may have an impact on cytokine concentrations in individuals with MS and should be confirmed in studies with stronger statistical power. The impact of these changes on overall immune function in MS and on disease status and prognosis remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, Applied Human Physiology Laboratory, Center for Exercise Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Lesley J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Sean C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Mc Coy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines