Dataset Information

Short-term intensive fasting enhances the immune function of red blood cells in humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Fasting is known to influence the immune functions of leukocytes primarily by regulating their mobilization and redistribution between the bone marrow and the peripheral tissues or circulation, in particular via relocalization of leukocytes back in the bone marrow. However, how the immune system responds to the increased risk of invasion by infectious pathogens with fewer leukocytes in the peripheral blood during fasting intervention remains an open question.

Results

We used proteomic, biochemical and flow cytometric tools to evaluate the impact of short-term intensive fasting (STIF), known as beego, on red blood cells by profiling the cells from the STIF subjects before and after 6 days of fasting and 6 days of gradual refeeding. We found that STIF, by triggering the activation of the complement system via the complement receptor on the membrane of red blood cells, boosts fairly sustainable function of red blood cells in immune responses in close relation to various pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, particularly with the pronounced capacity to defend against SARS-CoV-2, without compromising their oxygen delivery capacity and viability.

Conclusion

STIF fosters the immune function of red blood cells and therefore, it may be considered as a nonmedical intervention option for the stronger capacity of red blood cells to combat infectious diseases.

SUBMITTER: Fang Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10469874 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Short-term intensive fasting enhances the immune function of red blood cells in humans.

Fang Yixuan Y Qian Jiawei J Xu Li L Wei Wen W Bu Wenwen W Zhang Suping S Lv Yaqi Y Li Lei L Zhao Chen C Gao Xueqin X Gu Yue Y Wang Li L Chen Zixing Z Wang Xiao X Zhang Ruizhi R Xu Youjia Y Yang Yanjun Y Lu Jie J Yan Zhanjun Z Wang Mingyuan M Tang Longhai L Yuan Na N Wang Jianrong J

Immunity & ageing : I & A 20230830 1

<h4>Background</h4>Fasting is known to influence the immune functions of leukocytes primarily by regulating their mobilization and redistribution between the bone marrow and the peripheral tissues or circulation, in particular via relocalization of leukocytes back in the bone marrow. However, how the immune system responds to the increased risk of invasion by infectious pathogens with fewer leukocytes in the peripheral blood during fasting intervention remains an open question.<h4>Results</h4>We ...[more]

PMID: 37649035

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Project description:BackgroundShort-Term Fasting (STF) is an intervention reducing the intake of calories, without causing undernutrition or micronutrient-related malnutrition. It aims to systemically improve resilience against acute stress. Several (pre-)clinical studies have suggested protective effects of STF, marking the systemic effects STF can induce in respect to surgery and ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, STF also affects the number of circulating immune cells. We aim to determine the effect of STF on the abundance and phenotype of different immune cell populations.MethodsThirty participants were randomly selected from the FAST clinical trial, including living kidney donors, randomized to an STF-diet or control arm. In an observational cohort sub-study we prospectively included 30 patients who donated blood samples repeatedly during study runtime. Using flow cytometry analyses, immune cell phenotyping was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Three panels were designed to investigate the presence and activation status of peripheral T cells, B cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and myeloid cells.ResultsEight participants were excluded due to sample constraints. Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences, except for fasting duration. Weight changes were minimal and non-significant across different time intervals, with slight trends toward long-term weight loss pre-surgery. Glucose, insulin, and β-hydroxybutyrate levels differed significantly between groups, reflecting adherence to the fasting diet. Flow cytometry and RNA sequencing analysis revealed no baseline differences between groups, with high variability within each group. STF changes the levels and phenotype of immune cells, reducing the abundance and activation of T cells, including regulatory T cells, increased presence of (naïve) B cells, and elevation of type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s). In addition, a decrease in central memory T cells was observed.DiscussionIn this study, we observed significant changes due to fasting in B cells, T cells, and DCs, specifically toward less specialized lymphocytes, suggesting an arrest in B and T cell development. Further research should focus on the clinical implications of changes in immune cells and significance of these observed immunological changes.ConclusionSTF results in reduced numbers and activation status of T cells and Tregs, increased presence of (naïve) B cells, and elevation of cDC1s.

Project description:Background: A greater decrease in 24-hour energy expenditure (EE) during fasting and a smaller increase in 24-hour EE during low-protein overfeeding (metabolic "thrifty" phenotype) predict weight gain. As thyroid hormones (TH) are implicated in energy intake and metabolism, we assessed whether: (i) TH concentrations are altered by 24-hour fasting or overfeeding diets with varying protein content and (ii) diet-related changes in TH correlate with concomitant changes in EE. Methods: Fifty-eight euthyroid healthy subjects with normal glucose regulation underwent 24-hour dietary interventions including fasting, eucaloric feeding, and five overfeeding diets in a crossover design within a whole-room indirect calorimeter to measure the 24-hour EE. Overfeeding diets (200% of energy requirements) included three diets with 20% protein, one diet with 3% protein (low-protein overfeeding diet [LPF]: 46% fat), and one diet with 30% protein (high-protein overfeeding diet [HPF]: 44% fat, n = 51). Plasma free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) concentrations were measured after overnight fast the morning of and after each diet. Results: On average, fT4 increased by 8% (+0.10 ng/dL, 95% confidence interval [CI 0.07-0.13], p < 0.0001) and fT3 decreased by 6% (-0.17 pg/mL [CI -0.27 to -0.07], p = 0.001) after 24-hour fasting, whereas both fT4 and fT3 decreased by 5% (-0.07 ng/dL [CI -0.11 to -0.04], p < 0.0001) and 4% (-0.14 pg/mL [CI -0.24 to -0.04], p = 0.008) following HPF, respectively. Greater decreases in fT3 after HPF are associated with larger decreases in FGF21 (r = 0.40, p = 0.005). Following LPF, the mean fT3 increased by 6% (+0.14 pg/mL [CI 0.05-0.2], p = 0.003) with no change in fT4 (p = 0.7). No changes in TH were observed after normal-protein overfeeding diets (all p > 0.1). No associations were observed between TH concentrations and diet-related changes in 24-hour EE during any diet (all p > 0.07). Conclusions: Acute (200%) short-term (24 hours) changes in food intake induce small changes in TH concentrations only after diets with low (0% fasting and 3% protein overfeeding) or high (30% protein overfeeding) protein content. The fT3-FGF21 association after high-protein overfeeding suggests a role for TH in inhibiting FGF21 secretion by the liver during protein excess. These results indicate that TH are involved in protein metabolism; however, they do not mediate the short-term EE response to diets that characterize the metabolic phenotypes and determine the individual susceptibility to weight gain.

Dataset Information

Short-term intensive fasting enhances the immune function of red blood cells in humans.

Background

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Short-term intensive fasting enhances the immune function of red blood cells in humans.

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