- Researchers have shown that exercise can strengthen the immune response by increasing the production of immune cells called lymphocytes.
- Lymphocytes, or white blood cells, are involved in the immune response after infections by bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.
- These findings were observed in experiments involving mice. If applicable to humans, these findings may lead to new strategies to increase the immune response in infections and after vaccinations with regular exercise.
Doctors always recommend regular exercise, as any type of physical activity is good for the body. While going to the gym and playing certain sports during the pandemic can be challenging, there are many ways to make up for the lack of access. Running, walking and exercising at home are some of the simplest options during the pandemic, which would allow anyone to remain active without exposing themselves to others. And if this new study is correct, the best reason to exercise may be because it can help you overcome infections like COVID-19.
Best deal of the day %title% List price:% original price% Price:%price% You save:% discount_amount% (% discount_percent%)
Available on Amazon, BGR can receive a commission Available on Amazon BGR can receive a commission
Researchers at the University of Texas’ Southwestern Medical Center found that exercise increases the production of immune cells in bones that fight infection. These are lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells (including B and T cells), which are called upon to fight pathogens. Lymphocytes are involved in the immune response to an infection, whether it is a new coronavirus, a bacterium or some other type of germ that does not belong to the body.
The researchers proved that exercise stimulates the production of cells that will later be involved in the immune response. Their study, published in Nature, also offers another notable finding: aging depletes the reserves of lymphocyte progenitors in the bone marrow. An article that accompanies in Nature explained the results.
The bone marrow contains several types of stem cells and progenitor cells, which live side by side in so-called niches. The researchers demonstrated that the movement can increase the number of lymphocyte progenitors that leave the bone, going to the small blood vessels that vascularize the organs.
The following image explains the various components found near the arterioles within the bone. The authors analyzed bone cell progenitors in the bone marrow that express leptin (LepR) and osteolectin (Oln) receptor proteins.
During exercise, bones are stimulated and a mechanically sensitive ion channel called Pizeo1 is activated in LepR + Oln + cells. Two things happen next. The cells next to each other start to differentiate, which leads to the formation of new bone cells. In addition, exercise leads to the expression and secretion of a signaling molecule called stem cell factor (SCF), which affects nearby common lymphoid parents (PLCs). These PLCs will turn into lymphocytes.
The researchers created mutant mice that lacked the gene that encodes SCF in their Oln + cells. This did not affect the development of blood cells within the bone marrow, but it did lead to a significant reduction in CLP, which led to fewer lymphocytes ready to fight infections. The authors exposed the mutant mice to a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes and found that animals without the SCF gene did not kill the bacteria as efficiently as their controls. The scientists also carried out a separate experiment that involved movement. They put mice in cages with racing wheels and found that running led to more Oln + and CLP cells in the bone marrow. Mice with Oln + cells expressed the Piezo1 protein from the mechanosensitive ion channel, while the mutants had abnormally low CLP numbers.
The conclusion is that exercise can stimulate the immune system. This in turn can lead to a better immune response in the infection. If the same conclusions apply to humans, new approaches and protocols to prevent and treat infectious diseases can be developed around exercise.
The authors also found that the number of Oln + and CLP cells was lower in the bone marrow of 18-month-old mice than in 2-month-old animals. All animals were active, which indicates that other factors reduced the expression of these cells, which can lead to problems in the immune system. The authors of the complementary article noted that more research is needed to determine whether exercise can improve bacterial clearance in rats. Another thing to research is whether exercise can increase responses to vaccinations.
The full study is available at this link and the complementary article can be found here.
Best deal of the day %title% List price:% original price% Price:%price% You save:% discount_amount% (% discount_percent%)
Available on Amazon, BGR can receive a commission Available on Amazon BGR you can receive a commission
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and, before he knew it, was sharing his views on technology with readers around the world. Whenever he’s not writing about gadgets, he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he tries desperately. But this is not necessarily a bad thing.