The Effect of High-Intensity Resistance Exercise Period on the Levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the Brain of Lewis Rats with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). There is a correlation between up-regulation of a variety of cytokines with inflammatory reactions in multiple sclerosis lesions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity resistance exercise program on prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) (a model for studying multiple sclerosis).
Resistance exercises were performed for 6 weeks, 5 days a week. Training program started with 50% of rat's body weight. In the first session, animals performed 8 to 10 repetitions (up the ladder) with 2-minute rest intervals. Rats were immunized with spinal cord and complete adjuvant of guinea pigs. Disease process and changes in rat's weights were measured every day. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model was induced at the end of the sixth week of training.
Findings: Resistance training in Lewis female rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis resulted in a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (P = 0.001) and a significant increase in interleukin-10 (IL-10) (P = 0.001). However, it did not cause significant changes in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) (P = 0.055). In addition, clinical symptoms in exercised rats were postponed.
Regarding the results, it appears that resistance exercises with necessary duration and intensity delay the onset, reduce the severity of clinical symptoms, and decrease TNF-α, increase IL-10, with no change in BDNF, in Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.