Scientists have found something simple that anyone can do to help defeat a coronavirus infection – BGR

• Researchers have shown that exercise can boost the immune response by increasing the production of immune system cells called lymphocytes.
• Lymphocytes, or white blood cells, are involved in the immune response to infections with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.
• These findings were observed in experiments with mice. If applied to humans, these conclusions could lead to new strategies to increase the immune response to infections and to vaccinations with regular exercise.

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Doctors always recommend regular exercise, as any physical activity is good for the body. While going to the gym and enjoying certain sports during the pandemic, there are many ways to compensate for the lack of access. Running, walking and exercising at home are some of the simplest options during the pandemic that allow someone to stay active without exposing themselves to other people. And if this new study is correct, it may be the best reason to exercise because it can help you overcome infections like COVID-19.

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Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found that exercise increases the production of immune cells in bones that fight infections. These are lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells (B and T cells included), that are called upon to fight pathogens. Lymphocytes are involved in the immune response to an infection, whether it is the new coronavirus, a bacterium or another type of germ that does not belong in 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 fathers in the bone marrow. An accompanying article in Nature explained the results.

Bone marrow contains different types of stem cells and stem cells, living side by side in so-called niches. The researchers showed that movement can increase the number of lymphocyte progenitors leaving the bone to the small blood vessels that vascularize organs.

The following image explains the different components that occur along arterioles inside the bone. The authors looked at the progenitors in the bone marrow that express the proteins leptin receptor (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, leading to the formation of new bone cells. Exercise also leads to the expression and secretion of a signaling molecule called stem cell factor (SCF), which affects nearby common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs). These CLPs will turn into lymphocytes.

The researchers created mutant mice that lack the gene that contains SCF in their Oln + cells. It did not affect the development of blood cells in the bone marrow, but it did lead to a significant reduction in CLP, leading to fewer lymphocytes ready to fight infections. The authors exposed the mutant mice to a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes and found that animals that do not have the SCF gene do not clear the bacteria as efficiently as their controls. The scientists also performed a separate experiment involving movement. They place mice in cages with running wheels and discover that running leads to a greater number of Oln + and CLP cells in the bone marrow. The mice with Oln + cells expressed the mechanosensitive ion channel protein Piezo1, while mutants had abnormally low CLP numbers.

The conclusion is that exercise can stimulate the immune system. In turn, this can lead to a better immune response during infection. If the same conclusions apply to humans, new approaches and protocols for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases can be developed.

The authors also found that the numbers of Oln + and CLP cells were lower in the bone marrow of 18-month-old mice than two-month-old animals. All animals were active, suggesting that other factors reduced the expression of those cells, which could lead to problems with the immune system. The author of the accompanying articles noted that more research is needed to determine whether exercise can improve bacterial clearance in mice. Another thing to investigate is whether exercise can promote responses to vaccinations.

The full study is available at this link and the accompanying article can be found here.

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