By stimulating the metabolism of lymphocytes, T specialized in the elimination of cancerous cells, physical activity makes it possible to limit the risks of recurrence of cancer.
- Exercising boosts our immune system.
- Immunity, and more specifically lymphocytes, play an important role in the detection and elimination of cancerous cells that form in tissues.
Regular physical exercise is one of the most effective ways of preventing cancer. At the beginning of the year, a meta-analysis carried out by American researchers, and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, revealed that practicing between 2.5 and 5 hours of sport per week could significantly reduce the risk of developing seven cancers. A new study, published on October 23 in the journal eLife reveals that physical activity can reduce the risk of recurrence thanks to its action on T lymphocytes which are involved in the elimination of cancer cells.
Sport activates immunosurveillance
The protective effect of physical exercise on the risk of relapse is linked to its influence on the immune system. It has been established that immunity, and more particularly lymphocytes, play an important role in the detection and elimination of cancerous cells which form in the tissues. By activating this phenomenon of immunosurveillance, physical activity would have an important anti-cancer role. To better understand how physical activity increases immune surveillance, Swedish researchers separated cancer-stricken mice into two groups: a group where the animals remained inactive and a group where they were able to exercise regularly on a wheel. training.
The results showed slowed tumor growth and decreased mortality in mice that were able to exercise. In detail, the researchers noticed that this protective effect is essentially due to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. When the researchers injected antibodies that block the action of these lymphocytes, the positive effect of exercise on cancer growth and survival in the trained mice was completely eliminated. Conversely, when the researchers isolated the T cells from the trained animals and administered them to the sedentary mice, they observed a decrease in cancer progression in the latter.
Increased cytotoxic activity
Exercise causes metabolic changes that cause the anti-cancer action of T cells. The more active muscle cells will consume more energy and this generates several metabolites which are then released at high levels into the bloodstream during exercise. The researchers observed that some of these metabolites, such as lactate, cause a modification in the metabolism of T lymphocytes and increase their cytotoxic activity against cancer cells.
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