Effect of Exercise, MitoQ, and Their Combination on Inflammatory and Gene Expression in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Current treatments aim to manage symptoms and slow disease progression, but there is a need for effective interventions that target underlying disease mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of exercise, MitoQ (a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant), and their combination on the gene expression of various biomarkers associated with MS in postmenopausal and premenopausal women. We measured interleukin-6 (IL-6) and key molecular pathways involved in MS pathogenesis, including suppressor of mother against decapentaplegic 2 (SMAD2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) using real-time polymerase chain reaction. All interventions significantly lowered IL-6 levels and STAT1, especially in premenopausal women. Also, both exercise and MitoQ led to a significant increase in the SMAD2 and TGF-β expression, with a more pronounced effect on premenopausal women. Noteworthy, the effectiveness of the combination of exercise and MitoQ was considerably higher than each one alone. These findings suggest that exercise and MitoQ, either alone or combined, can modulate various biological pathways implicated in MS pathogenesis.