- Researchers have shown that exercise can strengthen the immune response by increasing the production of cells of the immune system called lymphocytes.
- Lymphocytes, or white blood cells, are involved in the immune response to infections by bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
- These findings were observed in experiments involving mice. If appropriate for humans, these findings could lead to new strategies for increasing the immune response in diseases 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 enjoying some fun during the pandemic can be challenging, there are plenty of ways to make up for the lack of access. Running, walking, and exercising at home are some of the simplest options during the pandemic that would allow anyone to stay active without exposing themselves to others. And if this new study is correct, it may be the best reason to exercise because it can help you overcome diseases like COVID-19.
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Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found that exercise boosts the production of immune cells in disease-fighting bones. These are lymphocytes, also called white blood cells (including B and T cells), which are called to fight pathogens. Lymphocytes are involved in the immune response of an infection, whether it is the novel coronavirus, bacteria, or another type of organism that does not belong to the body.
The researchers proved that exercise stimulates the production of cells that subsequently engage in the immune response. Their study, published in Nature, also offers another unique finding: aging depletes lymphocyte progenitors in the bone marrow. An accompanying article in Nature explained the results.
In bone marrow there are different types of gas cells and progenitor cells, which live side by side in so-called spheres. The researchers showed that movement can increase the number of lymphocyte promoters that leave the bone, going to the small blood vessels that vase organs.
The following image explains the different parts found next to arteries within the bone. The authors looked at the bone cell progenitors in the bone marrow that express the protein receptor leptin (LepR) and osteolectin (Oln).
During exercise, bones are stimulated and a mechanosensitive ion channel called Pizeo1 is activated on the LepR + Oln + cells. Two things happen next. The cells that sit next to each other begin to differentiate, which leads to the formation of new bone cells. Also, exercise leads to the sensation and secretion of a sign molecule called gas cell factor (SCF), which affects the nearby common lymphoid (CLP) progenitors. These CLPs turn into lymphocytes.
The researchers created mutant mice that did not have the gene encoding SCF in their Oln + cells. This did not affect the development of blood cells within bone marrow, but did lead to a significant reduction in CLP, which resulted in fewer lymphocytes ready to fight disease. The authors exposed the mutant mice to so-called bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and found that animals lacking the SCF gene did not clean their bacteria as effectively as their controls. The scientists also ran a separate experiment that involved movement. They placed mice in cages with running wheels and found that running led to a higher number of Oln + and CLP cells in the bone marrow. The mice with Oln + cells expressed the mechanical ion channel protein Piezo1, while mutants had low CLP numbers.
The conclusion is that exercise can stimulate the immune system. At the same time, this may lead to an enhanced immune response in infection. If the same conclusions apply to humans, new methods and protocols for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases could develop around exercise.
The authors also found that the numbers of Oln + and CLP cells were lower in bone marrow in 18-month-old mice than in 2-month-old animals. All animals were active, indicating that other factors had reduced the expression of these cells, which could lead to immune system issues. The authors of the companion article noted that more research is needed to determine whether exercise can promote bacterial cleansing in mice. Another thing to explore is whether exercise can stimulate vaccine responses.
The full review can be found at this link and the companion article can be found here.
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Chris Smith began writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it he shared his views on tech stuff with readers around the world. When he’s not writing about tools he desperately fails to get away from them, even though he’s trying hard. But that’s not a bad thing.