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Review
. 2025 Jan-Mar;66(1):89-98.
doi: 10.47162/RJME.66.1.08.

The effect of physical exercises on TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 cytokines expression and NK cells in cancer

Ligia Rusu  1 , Tatiana Andreea Mihai, Ramona Adriana Schenker, Mihnea Ion Marin, Michael Schenker, Costin Teodor Streba, Dan Ionuţ Gheonea, Denisa Piele
Affiliations
Review

The effect of physical exercises on TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 cytokines expression and NK cells in cancer

Ligia Rusu et al. Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2025 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

The main process in developing cancer is carcinogenesis, which means that proliferation of the cells is developed and is based on interplay between intrinsic and extrinsic processes. Many researchers consider that cytokines produced during muscle contractions (i.e., myokines) could influence cancer cells. Myokines, produced by muscles during physical activity, may have anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects by directly influencing the tumor microenvironment and the immune system. These signaling molecules have the potential to modulate tumor cell growth and viability, suggesting that exercise may contribute to cancer prevention and control through complex biochemical mechanisms. The aim of this review was to analyze the effects of physical exercise on cytokines and implicitly its influence on the cancer cells, by performing in-depth documentation leading to a synthesis, for analysis of the possible contribution of physical exercises as therapeutic potential. The search for articles was also extended to databases. Multiple studies have shown that exercise can inhibit the development of tumor cells and so apoptosis may be induced for various malignant cells and much more short-term and long-term training interventions suggest that training volume may influence the inhibition of cancer cells. Still, the specific impact of training modalities, volumes, as well as intensities on serum collected from individuals undergoing exercise programs - and its subsequent effects on cancer cells - remains unclear.

Keywords: cancer; carcinogenesis; cytokines; myokines; physical exercises.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA diagram. PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses
Figure 2
Figure 2
Variation of descriptive parameters for TNF-α cytokine, pre and post effort. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Regression line of TNF-α cytokine, pre and post effort. This could be considered a prognosis about the evolution of TNF-α
Figure 4
Figure 4
Variation of descriptive parameters for IL-6 cytokine, pre and post effort. IL-6: Interleukin-6
Figure 5
Figure 5
Regression line of IL-6 cytokine, pre and post effort. This could be considered a prognosis about the evolution of IL-6
Figure 6
Figure 6
Variation of descriptive parameters for IL-8 cytokine, pre and post effort. IL-8: Interleukin-6
Figure 7
Figure 7
Regression line of IL-8 cytokine, pre and post effort
Figure 8
Figure 8
Correlation between physical activity and type of cytokines. HIIE: High-intensity interval exercise; IL-6: Interleukin-6; IL-8: Interleukin-8; MIIE: Moderate-intensity interval exercise; NK: Natural killer; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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