Exploring the Potential of Non-Pharmacological Therapeutic Interventions to Promote Resilience of the Human Immune System. Part I: Biological Foundations and Structured Exercise
The human immune system relies on the dynamic, complex integration of various cells, proteins, tissues, and organs which work together in concert with the nervous system to recognize, adapt to, and neutralize pathogens. In parallel, there is a neurobiological network of systems which function to react and adapt to changes in the environment to restore and maintain homeostasis in the service of survival. Our dependency on the stability and resilience of this collective ecosystem of responses is amplified during times of heightened risk for illness and when healthcare systems are in fluctuating states of excessive strain, such as in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The nature of the adaptability of these systems is called into question when confronted with novel viruses that humans have no natural immunity against, and likewise when interfacing with future variants in transition through and into the endemic phase of such outbreaks. Nuanced multidisciplinary investigations of the pathways in which positive changes can be affected and subsequent advantages conferred are warranted for consideration in virtually all domains of healthcare, especially at times when a viral outbreak is uncontained. The following is a series of biological considerations with implications that warrant further discussion and potential extrapolation for individualized employment by healthcare and public health professionals in efforts to combat both current and future crises as they may arise.
Cite this paper
Parker, C. (2022). Exploring the Potential of Non-Pharmacological Therapeutic Interventions to Promote Resilience of the Human Immune System. Part I: Biological Foundations and Structured Exercise. Open Access Library Journal, 9, e8691. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108691.
Sohrabi, C., Alsafi, Z., O’Neill, N., et al. (2020) World Health Organization Declares Global Emergency: A Review of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). International Journal of Surgery, 76, 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.02.034
World Health Organization. Rolling Updates on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen
Nicola, M., Alsafi, Z., Sohrabi, C., et al. (2020) The Socio-Economic Implications of the Coronavirus and COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review. International Journal of Surgery, 78, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.018
Carfì, A., Bernabei, R., Landi, F., for the Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group (2020) Persistent Symptoms in Patients after Acute COVID-19. JAMA, 324, 603-605. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.12603
Vakili, K., Fathi, M., Hajiesmaeili, M., Salari, M., Saluja, D., Tafakhori, A., Sayehmiri, F. and Rezaei-Tavirani, M. (2021) Neurological Symptoms, Comorbidities, and Complications of COVID-19: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. European Neurology, 84, 307-324. https://doi.org/10.1159/000516258
Families USA (2020) The COVID-19 Pandemic and Resulting Economic Crash Have Caused the Greatest Health Insurance Losses in American History.
https://www.familiesusa.org/resources/the-covid-19-pandemic-and-resulting-economic-crash-have-caused-the-greatest-health-insurance-losses-in-american-history/
Zhou, P., Yang, X.L., Wang, X.G., et al. (2020) A Pneumonia Outbreak Associated with a New Coronavirus of Probable Bat Origin. Nature, 579, 270-273.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2012-7
Walls, A.C., Park, Y.J., Tortorici, M.A., Wall, A., McGuire, A.T. and Veesler, D. (2020) Structure, Function, and Antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. Cell, 181, 281-292.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.058
Duffy, E., Ayers, A., Caínzos-Achirica, M. and Blumenthal, R. (2020) Clinical Review of COVID-19 and CVD: What the Cardiovascular Practitioner Needs to Know. Cardiology Today.
https://www.healio.com/cardiology/chd-prevention/news/print/cardiology-today/%7Bc7417d27-5908-4c8a-892b-317ee67cdb19%7D/clinical-review-of-covid-19-and-cvd-what-the-cardiovascular-practitioner-needs-to-know?utm_source=selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cardiology%20news&m_bt=742684922117
Hamming, T.W., Timens, W., Bulthuis, M.L.C., Lely, A.T., Navis, G.J. and van Goor, H. (2014) Tissue Distribution of ACE2 Protein, the Functional Receptor for SARS Coronavirus. A First Step in Understanding SARS Pathogenesis. The Journal of Pathology, 203, 631-637. https://doi.org/10.1002/path.1570
Guan, W.-J., et al. (2020) Comorbidity and Its Impact on 1590 Patients with Covid-19 in China: A Nationwide Analysis. European Respiratory Journal, 55, Article ID: 2000547.
Zhao, X., Zhang, B., et al. (2020) Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factor of Patients with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. MedRxIV.
Shi, S., Qin, M., Shen, B., et al. (2020) Association of Cardiac Injury with Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Cardiology, 5, 802-810. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.0950
Ibarrondo, F.J., Fulcher, J.A., Goodman-Meza, D., et al. (2020) Rapid Decay of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Persons with Mild Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine, 383, 1085-1087. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc2025179
Shenai, M.B., Rahme, R. and Noorchashm, H. (2021) Equivalency of Protection from Natural Immunity in COVID-19 Recovered versus Fully Vaccinated Persons: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis. Cureus, 13, e19102.
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.19102
World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Advice for the Public.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Iwasaki, A. and Medzhitov, R. (2015) Control of Adaptive Immunity by the Innate Immune System. Nature Immunology, 16, 343-353. https://doi.org/10.1038/ni.3123
Sourav, P. and Girdhari, L. (2017) The Molecular Mechanism of Natural Killer Cells Function and Its Importance in Cancer Immunotherapy. Frontiers in Immunology, 8, Article 1124. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01124
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01124
Neibla, P. and Manuel, V. (2019) The Potential of Astrocytes as Immune Modulators in Brain Tumors. Frontiers in Immunology, 10, Article 1314.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01314
Gunnar, M. and Quevedo, K. (2007) The Neurobiology of Stress. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 145-173. https://www.annualreviews.org
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085605
Sokol, C.L. and Luster, A.D. (2015) The Chemokine System in Innate Immunity. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 7, a016303.
https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a016303
Marques-Deak, A. and Sternberg, E. (2004) Psiconeuroimunologia: A relação entre o sistema nervoso central e o sistema imunológico. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, 26, 143-144. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462004000300002
Ye, Q., Wang, B. and Mao, J. (2020) The Pathogenesis and Treatment of the “Cytokine Storm” in COVID-19. Journal of Infection, 80, 607-613.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.03.037
Chiu, I.M., von Hehn, C.A. and Woolf, C.J. (2012) Neurogenic Inflammation and the Peripheral Nervous System in Host Defense and Immunopathology. Nature Neuroscience, 15, 1063-1067. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3144
Kraneveld, A.D., de Theije, C.G., van Heesch, F., et al. (2014) The Neuro-Immune Axis: Prospect for Novel Treatments for Mental Disorders. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 114, 128-136. https://doi.org/10.1111/bcpt.12154
Schulkin, J. (2003) Rethinking Homeostasis: Allostatic Regulation in Physiology and Pathophysiology. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/5928.001.0001
Alack, K., Pilat, C. and Krüger, K. (2019) Current Knowledge and New Challenges in Exercise Immunology. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin, 70, 250-260.
https://doi.org/10.5960/dzsm.2019.391
Campbell, J.P. and Turner, J.E. (2018) Debunking the Myth of Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression: Redefining the Impact of Exercise on Immunological Health across the Lifespan. Frontiers in Immunology, 9, Article 648.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00648
Lancaster, G.I. and Febbraio, M.A. (2014) The Immunomodulating Role of Exercise in Metabolic Disease. Trends in Immunology, 35, 262-269.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2014.02.008
Krüger, K., Mooren, F.C. and Pilat, C. (2016) The Immunomodulatory Effects of Physical Activity. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 22, 3730-3748.
https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666160322145107
Walsh, N.P., Gleeson, M., Shephard, R.J., Gleeson, M., Woods, J.A., Bishop, N.C., Fleshner, M., Green, C., Pedersen, B.K., Hoffman-Goetz, L., Rogers, C.J., Northoff, H., Abbasi, A. and Simon, P. (2011) Position Statement. Part One: Immune Function and Exercise. Exercise Immunology Review, 17, 6-63.
Matta Mello Portugal, E., Cevada, T., Sobral Monteiro-Junior, R., Teixeira Guimarães, T., da Cruz Rubini, E., Lattari, E., Blois, C. and Deslandes, C. (2013) Neuroscience of Exercise: From Neurobiology Mechanisms to Mental Health. Neuropsychobiology, 68, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1159/000350946
Stranahan, A.M., Lee, K. and Mattson, M.P. (2008) Central Mechanisms of HPA Axis Regulation by Voluntary Exercise. NeuroMolecular Medicine, 10, 118-127.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-008-8027-0
Papacosta, E. and Nassis, G.P. (2011) Saliva as a Tool for Monitoring Steroid, Peptide and Immune Markers in Sport and Exercise Science. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 14, 424-434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2011.03.004
Deslandes, A., Moraes, H., Ferreira, C., Veiga, H., Silveira, H., Mouta, R., Pompeu, F.A.M.S., Coutinho, E.S.F. and Laks, J. (2009) Exercise and Mental Health: Many Reasons to Move. Neuropsychobiology, 59, 191-198.
https://doi.org/10.1159/000223730
Bassuk, S.S. and Manson, J.E. (2005) Epidemiological Evidence for the Role of Physical Activity in Reducing Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Journal of Applied Physiology, 99, 1193-1204.
https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00160.2005
Cotman, C. (2002) Exercise: A Behavioral Intervention to Enhance Brain Health and Plasticity. Trends in Neurosciences, 25, 295-301.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-2236(02)02143-4
Hu, J., et al. (2021) Elevated Lactate by High-Intensity Interval Training Regulates the Hippocampal BDNF Expression and the Mitochondrial Quality Control System. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, Article 629914.
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2021.629914
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.629914
Duman, R.S. (2005) Neurotrophic Factors and Regulation of Mood: Role of Exercise, Diet and Metabolism. Neurobiology of Aging, 26, 88-93.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.08.018
Jin, Y., Sun, L.H., Yang, W., Cui, R.J. and Xu, S.B. (2019) The Role of BDNF in the Neuroimmune Axis Regulation of Mood Disorders. Frontiers in Neurology, 4, Article 515. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00515
Hyman, C., Hofer, M., Barde, Y.A., et al. (1991) BDNF Is a Neurotrophic Factor for Dopaminergic Neurons of the Substantia Nigra. Nature, 350, 230-232.
https://doi.org/10.1038/350230a0
Thomas Broome, S., Louangaphay, K., Keay, K.A., Leggio, G.M., Musumeci, G. and Castorina, A. (2020) Dopamine: An Immune Transmitter. Neural Regeneration Research, 15, 2173-2185. https://doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.284976
Scanzano, A. and Cosentino, M. (2015) Adrenergic Regulation of Innate Immunity: A Review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 6, Article 171.
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphar.2015.00171
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00171
Callaghan, P. (2004) Exercise: A Neglected Intervention in Mental Health Care? Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11, 476-483.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2004.00751.x
Bigley, A.B., Rezvani, K., Chew, C., Sekine, T., Pistillo, M., Crucian, B., et al. (2014) Acute Exercise Preferentially Redeploys NK-Cells with a Highly-Differentiated Phenotype and Augments Cytotoxicity against Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Target Cells. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 39, 160-171.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.030
Bigley, A.B., Rezvani, K., Pistillo, M., Reed, J., Agha, N., Kunz, H., et al. (2015) Acute Exercise Preferentially Redeploys NK-Cells with a Highly-Differentiated Phenotype and Augments Cytotoxicity against Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Target Cells. Part II: Impact of Latent Cytomegalovirus Infection and Catecholamine Sensitivity. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 49, 59-65.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2014.12.027
Dhabhar, F.S. (2014) Effects of Stress on Immune Function: The Good, the Bad, and the beautiful. Immunologic Research, 58, 193-210.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-014-8517-0
Pascoe, A.R., Singh, M.A.F. and Edwards, K.M. (2013) The Effects of Exercise on Vaccination Responses: A Review of Chronic and Acute Exercise Interventions in Humans. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 39, 33-41.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.003