Chinese researchers at Southwest University have made an exciting discovery about how our bodies respond to rising temperatures and the role this plays in fighting off infections. As global temperatures rise, so does the risk of infections from harmful microbes, and the body’s immune system steps up to the challenge. But how does the body know when it needs to turn up the immune response?
The researchers found that when temperatures increase, the body activates a special defense mechanism, distinct from how it responds to actual infections.
Instead of relying on the usual mitochondrial system that fights pathogens, high heat triggers a different system in the cell, called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response, or ER UPR.
This process sets off a chain reaction in the body, slowing down certain energy-consuming processes, like ribosome production, and leading to a build-up of lipids, including oleic acid. This buildup then sparks an immune pathway that helps the body deal with the heat stress and potential infection.
But the findings don’t stop there. The researchers also found that how the body handles ribosome production and lipid buildup is connected to longevity. Essentially, how the body balances these processes could impact how long we live and how well our immune system works as we age.
This breakthrough offers a new way to understand how our bodies adjust to temperature changes and how these adjustments can help fight infections while also affecting our overall health and lifespan. As temperatures continue to rise, this research could be key in understanding how we adapt to our changing environment.
