Mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise on multiple sclerosis: focus on immune cells

Boyi Zong; Fengzhi Yu; Xiaoyou Zhang; Wenrui Zhao; Shichang Li; Lin Li

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1260663

Mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise on multiple sclerosis: focus on immune cells

Front Immunol. 2023 Sep 29:14:1260663. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1260663. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Boyi Zong^{1

2}, Fengzhi Yu^{1

2

3}, Xiaoyou Zhang⁴, Wenrui Zhao⁵, Shichang Li^{1

2}, Lin Li^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
² Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
³ School of Exercise and Health, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Exercise and Metabolic Health, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
⁴ School of Physical Education, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
⁵ College of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent neuroimmunological illness that leads to neurological disability in young adults. Although the etiology of MS is heterogeneous, it is well established that aberrant activity of adaptive and innate immune cells plays a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Several immune cell abnormalities have been described in MS and its animal models, including T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, microglia/macrophages, and astrocytes, among others. Physical exercise offers a valuable alternative or adjunctive disease-modifying therapy for MS. A growing body of evidence indicates that exercise may reduce the autoimmune responses triggered by immune cells in MS. This is partially accomplished by restricting the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma, curbing hyperactivation of immune cells, and facilitating a transition in the balance of immune cells from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state. This review provides a succinct overview of the correlation between physical exercise, immune cells, and MS pathology, and highlights the potential benefits of exercise as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of MS.

Keywords: adaptive immunity; exercise; immune cell; innate immunity; multiple sclerosis.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Central Nervous System
Exercise
Macrophages / pathology
Multiple Sclerosis*
T-Lymphocytes

Grants and funding

The authors declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the Academic Innovation Ability Improvement Program for Outstanding Doctoral Students of East China Normal University [grant number YBNLTS2022-034]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [grant number 43800-20102-222000/003/015]; Key Laboratory Construction Project of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention of the Ministry of Education [grant number 40500-22203-542500/001/007/003].