Imagine your body like a city. Now, consider your immune system as the city’s police force. This police force is made up of different types of cells.
One type, called macrophages, is like the first responders. They help fight infections and heal injuries. Researchers have discovered something interesting about these macrophages. Let’s dive into the story!
Exercise and Immunity: A Curious Connection
For a long time, scientists have known that exercise is good for our health. It helps control our weight and keeps our hearts healthy.
But did you know it also strengthens our immune system? Exactly how it does this was a mystery. Until now.
Professor Ali Abdul-Sater and his team at York University made a fascinating discovery using mice. They found out that moderate exercise can “train” the cells that become macrophages.
Just like you exercise your muscles to become stronger, these cells also seem to become better at their job when the body is regularly active.
A Change in the Cells
Professor Abdul-Sater and his team found that exercise changes how these cells work. It changes how they use oxygen to create energy and how they access their DNA.
Think of it like the cells learning a new, more efficient way to do their job. And the best part? These changes stuck around even a week after exercise. That suggests that the benefits of exercise can last a long time.
The Good and Bad of Inflammation
You might have heard of inflammation. It’s our body’s response to infections and stress. Though it sometimes gets a bad reputation, some level of inflammation is actually good.
It helps our body fight off germs. But too much inflammation can be a problem. It can lead to diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
The good news is that exercise can help control inflammation.
After about six to eight weeks of regular exercise, Professor Abdul-Sater saw that the cells in the exercising mice were better at managing inflammation compared to the non-exercising mice.
Looking Ahead
Professor Abdul-Sater believes that these findings will likely apply to humans too. In their future research, they plan to work with volunteers.
These volunteers will do different types of exercise. The scientists will study their immune cells to see how the exercise affects them.
They also want to learn more about how inflammation works in more complicated diseases, like COVID-19.
The Takeaway
This research shows that regular, moderate exercise is good for us in many ways. Not only does it keep us physically fit, but it also helps our immune system.
It’s like a training program for our immune cells, helping them do their job better. So, even though we can’t expect the same results for everyone, it’s clear that staying active has long-term benefits for our health.
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The study was published in the American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology.
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