MMP-9 and S100B, the proteins involved in blood-brain barrier integrity, are widely studied as biomarkers in many diseases, including epilepsy. They are elevated in epilepsy patients both interictally and following motor seizures. To determine whether motor activity influences their serum concentrations, we investigated the effects of brief, seizure-like physical exercise on serum MMP-9 and S100B levels in healthy individuals. Participants performed two different 5-min exercise protocols mimicking the motor activity of bilateral tonic–clonic seizures, one of the sets of exercises that contribute to to muscle failure. Serum samples were collected before exercise, 3 h after exercise, and the next day (time points 0, 3 h, and 24 h). Our results demonstrated that both sets of motor exercises led to a similar increase in MMP-9 levels, while neither affected S100B levels. No significant differences in MMP-9 levels were observed due to muscle failure. We suggest that the increase in MMP-9 seen after seizures is induced partially by peripheral mechanisms, such as muscle contraction. S100B appears to be a promising biomarker in epilepsy, as it is not induced by physical activity but does increase following seizures. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying biomarker release in epilepsy and to determine the specific contributions of muscle contractions versus other seizure-related processes.

The aim of the study was to evaluate two widely studied biomarkers: MMP-9 and S100B in blood serum in healthy people after physical exercise mimicking physical activity during bi-lateral tonic-clonic seizures. Both biomarkers have been shown to increase after seizures, and their serum levels tend to be higher in epilepsy patients compared to individuals without epi-lepsy. To achieve this goal, we have developed two sets of exercises, each consisting of a tonic contrac-tion phase and a phase of alternating muscle work, lasting a total of approximately 5 minutes. Both sets of motor exercises were performed in the same group of healthy volunteers 6 months apart. Serum samples were collected before exercise, 3 hours after exercise, and the next day (time points 0, 3 hours, and 24 hours). Our results demonstrated that both sets of motor exercises led to a similar increase in MMP-9 levels, while neither while neither affected S100B levels. No significant differences in MMP-9 levels were observed due to muscle failure. We propose that the increase in MMP-9 is primarily induced by muscle contraction and additional mechanisms observed during exercise, such as neutrophil degranulation. S100B appears to be a promising biomarker in epilepsy, as it is not induced by physical activity but does increase following seizures.