Discover the miraculous effects of daylight on the immune system

Daylight has the ability to "stimulate the biological clock" of a type of white blood cell, significantly enhancing the ability to destroy bacteria - Photo: THE CONVERSATION

According to the medical information site News Medical, on May 23, a group of scientists from the University of Auckland (New Zealand) published a report showing that the mechanism of daylight can promote the immune system's ability to fight infectious agents.

The team discovered that neutrophils - the most common type of immune cell in the body - have a "biological clock" that helps them recognize the time of day and increase their effectiveness in killing bacteria.

"Daylight activates the internal clock of neutrophils, thereby enhancing natural immunity," said Associate Professor Christopher Hall, research leader in the department of molecular medicine and pathology.

The scientists used zebrafish — a small freshwater fish — as a model organism. This was based on two main factors: their genetic makeup is very similar to humans, and the fish can be bred to have transparent bodies, allowing for easy real-time observation of biological processes taking place inside their bodies.

Experiments on zebrafish showed that the fish’s immune response peaked in the morning. The team believes this is an “evolutionary response” because the hosts are more active during the day and are therefore more likely to be exposed to and exposed to infection.

Therefore, when exposed to daylight, the internal biological clock of neutrophils is "reset", significantly improving their ability to destroy invading bacteria.

Because this type of white blood cell is the first immune cell to be mobilized to sites of infection, this discovery has great significance in the treatment of many inflammatory diseases.

“This discovery paves the way for the development of future drugs that could target the neutrophils’ biological clock, thereby enhancing their effectiveness in fighting infections,” Associate Professor Hall stressed.

The team is currently working to further understand the specific molecular mechanisms by which light affects and regulates the neutrophil circadian clock. This understanding is expected to contribute to optimizing strategies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-tac-dung-than-ky-cua-anh-sang-ban-ngay-doi-voi-he-mien-dich-20250524123959209.htm