Thursday, April 23, 2026
NEW STUDY: B Cells Tht Fight Infections May Also Boost Muscle Performance During Exercise >> a chemical that helps initiate the pathway supplying muscles with the energy they need to work harder.
In this study, the researchers focused on the role of B cells in
facilitating exercise capacity. The researchers compared normal mice to
groups of mice whose B cells were eliminated either via genetic
modification or with an antibody that temporarily removes the cells.
They also modified mice so that only their B cells were unable to produce the signaling growth factor protein TGF-β1.
Physical activity is also known to influence the immune system. For
instance, exercise causes muscles to release a signaling molecule called
IL-6—a
pro-inflammatory mediator and a key regulator of immune responses—which
acts on immune cells within muscle tissue. What remains uncertain,
however, is whether the immune system, particularly B cells, can in turn
influence exercise capacity.
B cells that fight infections may also boost muscle performance during exercise
A recent study published in Cell has found that these same cells might have a role to play in maintaining high exercise performance.
The team compared exercise performance, such as treadmill endurance and
grip strength, in normal mice with those modified to lack B cells and
found that mice without B cells performed much worse in these tests.
- This discovery points to a mechanism that goes beyond immune function.
- B cells appear to drive an immune-independent liver-muscle metabolic signaling, which starts with releasing a protein that travels to the liver, where it is converted into a chemical that helps initiate the pathway supplying muscles with the energy they need to work harder.
Role beyond immunity
Treatments that target a protein called CD20 on the surface of B
cells have proven effective against specific cancers. The trade-off is
that they do not distinguish between harmful and healthy cells and end
up removing both. Even though B cells are well known for their role in
fighting infections, it is still unclear whether they have functions
beyond immunity and knowing those is essential for supporting people
undergoing treatments that deplete B cells.
Physical activity is also known to influence the immune system. For instance, exercise causes muscles to release a signaling molecule called IL-6—a pro-inflammatory mediator and a key regulator of immune responses—which acts on immune cells within muscle tissue. What remains uncertain, however, is whether the immune system, particularly B cells, can in turn influence exercise capacity.
B cell deficiency limits exercise capacity by remodeling liver glutamate metabolism
Supports open access
Highlights
•
B cell deficiency limits exercise performance and skeletal muscle function
•
B cells sustain peripheral glutamate levels to enhance exercise capacity
•
B cell-derived TGF-β1 reprograms hepatic glutamine catabolism and antiport
•
Glutamate activates functional signaling and metabolism in skeletal muscle
By comparing normal and modified mice, researchers mapped a three-step communication chain through which B cells enhance exercise capacity. First, B cells release the protein TGF-β1 into the bloodstream. This signal reaches the liver, prompting it to convert glutamine into glutamate. The glutamate then enters the blood and travels to the muscles, where it boosts calcium signaling and improves mitochondrial function, which is needed to provide muscles with the energy they need to work harder.
B cells have traditionally been associated with fighting infections, with little connection to muscle performance, and these findings highlight a lesser-known role of these immune cells. The authors emphasize that their findings are based on mouse models. Human clinical studies are still needed to confirm whether these metabolic links hold true in people and whether they could be harnessed to improve exercise performance or muscle health.
Current Issue
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Money runs short in Ukraine / Unblocking of the €90 Billion EU Financial Support Package
EU close to approving a $106B loan for Ukraine after months of deadlock
Updated 7:53 AM MST, April 22, 2026
Leer en español
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Wednesday was on the cusp of approving a massive loan for Ukraine as oil began flowing again through a key pipeline toward Hungary and Slovakia, lifting a major obstacle to approving the funds.
- The operator of the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine, Ukrtransnaft, told the two countries that Russian oil was on its way and should arrive early on Thursday.
- Unlike most of the rest of the EU, Hungary and Slovakia still depend on Russia for their energy needs.
National governments have 24 hours to raise objections in writing, and if none of the 27 member nations do, the loan could be approved by Thursday afternoon, just as EU leaders are gathering for a summit in Cyprus.
A new raft of sanctions against Russia could also be approved on Thursday.
A new raft of sanctions against Russia could also be approved on Thursday.
Money runs short in Ukraine
Ukraine desperately needs the 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan package, originally agreed in December, to prop up its war-ravaged economy and help keep Russian forces at bay for the next two years.
Ukraine desperately needs the 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan package, originally agreed in December, to prop up its war-ravaged economy and help keep Russian forces at bay for the next two years.
- Hungary has insisted that it must start receiving the oil again before it will unblock the funds, while Slovakia refused to endorse new sanctions.
- For months, the two countries have accused Ukraine of failing to repair the pipeline. Ukraine and most of its European backers oppose imports of Russian oil which have helped to fund President Vladimir Putin’s war, now in its fifth year.
In a post on social media on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations” and that “we expect that the European side will also deliver.”
He welcomed movement on the loan, saying that “the unblocking is the right signal under the current circumstances. Russia must end its war. And the incentives for that can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient.”
Cautious optimism after months of delay
The 27-nation EU had originally intended to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for the loan. But that option was blocked by Belgium, where the bulk of the frozen assets are held.
In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.
But Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has repeatedly blocked EU aid to Ukraine, angered the other 24 countries by later reneging on that deal over the pipeline dispute and as campaigning heated up ahead of an April 12 election that he lost in a landslide.
The 27-nation EU had originally intended to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for the loan. But that option was blocked by Belgium, where the bulk of the frozen assets are held.
In December, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia agreed not to stop their EU partners from borrowing the money on international markets as long as the three countries did not have to take part in the scheme.
But Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has repeatedly blocked EU aid to Ukraine, angered the other 24 countries by later reneging on that deal over the pipeline dispute and as campaigning heated up ahead of an April 12 election that he lost in a landslide.
New sanctions on Russia
The EU has also been trying since February to push through a new raft of sanctions against Russia, which Hungary and Slovakia have blocked.
The EU envoys also set in train a procedure to have them approved on Thursday.
- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico repeated on Wednesday that his government would not approve the new EU measures “unless the Druzhba oil pipeline is really reopened.” Fico said that “trust between Slovakia and Ukraine has been badly damaged” by the dispute.
- But Economy Minister Denisa Saková confirmed that Slovakia expects oil supplies to resume early on Thursday. Saková said Ukrtransnaft had informed the government that oil began entering the Druzhba pipeline again on Wednesday.
Associated Press journalists Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.
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Flash News: Ukraine Intercepts Russian Kh-59 Cruise Missile Using US VAMPIRE Air Defense System Mounted on Boat. Ukrainian forces have made ...
