Metabolic and inflammatory health in SARS-CoV-2 and the potential role for habitual exercise in reducing disease severity

Abstract

Introduction

The rapid emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 has infected millions of people worldwide with significant morbidity and mortality with various responses from health authorities to limit the spread of the virus. Although population-wide inoculation is preferred, currently, there is large variation and disparity in the acquisition, development, and deployment of vaccination programs in many countries. Even with availability of a vaccine, achieving herd immunity does not guarantee against reinfection from SARS-CoV-2. Emerging evidence indicates that vaccines do not eliminate infection but protect against severe disease and potential hospitalisation. Therefore, additional strategies which strengthen the immune system should be strongly considered to assist in reducing the overall health care burden and stem the rate of infection. There is now substantial evidence that SARS-CoV-2 disease severity and death are linked to existing comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders.

Purpose

In this review, we discuss the potential medium-to-long-term strategy of habitual exercise and its relationship to targeted comorbidities and underlying inflammation as a protective mechanism against SARS-CoV-2 disease severity.

Conclusion

We conclude that engagement in habitual physical activity and exercise could be a strategy to mitigate the development of comorbidities and improve the response of the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of symptoms and life-threatening complications if infected.

Introduction

The rapid emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 has infected millions of people worldwide with significant morbidity and mortality [1]. The clinical disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to distinguish it from the more general coronavirus [2]. At the time of writing, the number of confirmed cases worldwide is over 242 million with over 4.9 million deaths [3]. The worldwide pandemic has resulted in a range of responses from national health authorities to limit the spread of the virus including: restricting social interactions, enforcing social distancing, wearing of masks, night-time curfews, and more extreme measures such as closing domestic and international borders. The success of these measures is still debated, although some countries such as New Zealand and Australia have considerably reduced case numbers and maintained zero cases of community transmission for extended periods of time despite minor outbreaks occurring [4]. These measures have largely been mandated for two main reasons. First, infection from SARS-CoV-2 can range from being asymptomatic or having mild symptoms to acute respiratory stress syndrome and death with protection by individual immunity unpredictable and variable [5]. Second, without implementing the mitigation measures, the overall spread and associated death count would arguably be much higher with even greater demand being placed on frontline workers and resources, than has thus far been documented. Although population-wide inoculation is preferred, currently, there is large variation and disparity in the acquisition, development, and deployment of vaccination programs in many countries [3]. The current state of vaccination is that approximately 3 billion doses have been administered worldwide [3] which is still significantly short of achieving herd immunity. Therefore, attenuating community transmission remains critical and the possibility of disease elimination should still remain attractive while waiting for worldwide vaccination to be at a level which can result in herd immunity [6].

Although there is no question that attempts to suppress community transmission have led to significant economic burden, particularly in countries where mitigation was adopted over virus elimination [7], the development, and now the availability of a vaccine needs to overcome practical problems. The allocation of resources and infrastructure for the vaccination of a large population may limit attempts to achieve herd immunity by vaccination [8]. In addition to these obstacles, there are significant sociocultural hurdles to overcome. For example, there is a large percentage of any population refusing to be vaccinated and others being hesitant [9]. This might be due to uncoordinated public-health messaging related to the type of vaccine that should be used for different age groups [10], or temporary recalls of some vaccines due to potential adverse events [11]. For example, in Australia, the restricted choice for the type of vaccine and the limited supplies of vaccines as a whole has stifled vaccination programs and extended the time to achieve potential herd immunity. In fact, at the time of writing, Australia had achieved zero-community transmission, but quarantine breaches resulted in transmission of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 which is thought to be more transmissible and potentially lead to more severe symptoms [12]. This new variant and the potential for greater transmissibility forced local government authorities to mandate emergency restrictions such as lockdown for specific geographical locations.

Even with the availability of a vaccine, there are concerns that elimination of SARS-CoV-2 by vaccination and achieving herd immunity do not guarantee against reinfection from SARS-CoV-2, or a subsequent zoonotic disease which might erupt in a similar fashion as SARS-CoV-2. Emerging evidence indicates that vaccines do not eliminate infection, but only protect against severe disease and potential hospitalisation, so there will always be a portion of the population at risk—those that refuse to opt for vaccination even if there is herd immunity [13]. In addition, there is some uncertainty as to the duration of protection once vaccinated. Therefore, while vaccines are essential, additional strategies which strengthen the immune system should be part of the discussion as this can help to reduce the overall health care burden and stem the rate of infection, independent of additional measures that health authorities might employ.

One medium-to-long-term strategy is related to the response of the immune system to exercise. There is now good evidence, indicating that habitual, moderate exercise could in fact assist in risk reduction from upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) compared with a sedentary lifestyle [14]. Although the mechanism for improved immunity from habitual exercise is not fully understood, it appears that moderate training, especially in later life, is associated with maintenance of certain cellular immune function, such as T cells, and innate immunity [15]. A key outcome from engaging in habitual exercise is that it can ameliorate and even reduce the prevalence of chronic disease conditions such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome because of the attenuated chronic inflammation that is characteristic of these conditions [16]. In contrast, and as we now know, when individuals that have these and other comorbidities become infected with SARS-CoV-2, they are likely to experience more severe symptoms and potentially poorer outcomes [17]. Nevertheless, it remains unknown if there is a protective effect of habitual exercise against the severity of SARS-CoV-2 due to improved immune function despite some early evidence that greater aerobic capacity confers protection against severe disease and hospitalisation [18].

The broad aim of this review is to provide the reader with a brief history of the coronavirus to contextualise the current disease, to marshal the emerging evidence relating to SARS-CoV-2 morbidity and mortality relative to the pathophysiology, and finally, to highlight the importance of habitual exercise as a strategy to reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2. If the theoretical proposition for an anti-inflammatory mechanism is viable, it may lead to pre-emptive intervention by habitual physical exercise as a protective measure against SARS-CoV-2 and potentially for other similar diseases. A secondary aim is to provide a contextual viewpoint which could assist professionals working in areas of allied health to further understand the pathophysiology of this virus and make educated decisions about implementing prescription of physical exercise as a key aspect of healthcare as a prevention strategy. At present, the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 and exercise is not at the forefront of mitigating the pandemic but could become important in the medium-to-long-term management of the disease.

Origins, physiology, and symptomatology of coronaviruses

According to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the group of viruses generally labelled coronaviridae, which to date amount to 45 different species [19]. Coronaviruses were first described in 1965 by a group of virologists studying the common cold [20]. These researchers obtained a nasal swab from a child that presented with apparent common cold. Following a series of washings and testing, the inoculation for known viruses which they predicted would reveal influenza and other viruses such as rhinoviruses, they were unable to confirm the existence of such known viruses. However, they did confirm that their sample was indeed a “virus virtually unrelated to any other known virus of the human respiratory tract” (p. 1470). Imaging studies by Almeida and Tyrrell [21] revealed the distinct appearance on the virus particle surface covered with a distinct layer of projections which have a narrow stalk, giving it the resemblance of the solar corona [22].

Of the number of coronaviruses identified, three have caused serious worldwide population health concerns. In November 2002, a novel coronavirus, SARS emerged in China’s Guangdong Province, spreading rapidly across the world, and by August 2003, over 8000 cases were reported and a fatality rate of 10% became apparent [23]. In 2007, researchers warned of the threat of coronaviruses emerging and remerging because of their ability to undergo genetic recombination [24]. These researchers wrote “that the presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb. The possibility of the re-emergence of SARS and other novel viruses from animals or laboratories and therefore the need for preparedness should not be ignored” [24] (p. 683).

In 2012, a further novel coronavirus emerged named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) now labelled MERS-CoV and appeared initially in Saudi Arabia [25]. However, MERS-CoV did not seem to be easily transmitted and was largely contained with only 2468 cases confirmed. Nevertheless, the symptoms which developed in those infected were reported to range from the common cold to SARS. Interestingly, the mortality rate according to the WHO is estimated to be 35% of reported patients. The most recent novel coronavirus which gripped the world emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, although the transfer of the virus to the human population continues to be investigated [26].

The summary of symptomatology and pathology of coronaviruses with an emphasis on SARS-CoV-2 is given in Table 1. What can be noted is that there are common symptoms across SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2. However, over the course of the pandemic, which is now approaching an 18 month period, data are emerging which indicate that there are more severe symptoms which can lead to death. In addition, there is now strong evidence, indicating that there are persistent symptoms and pathology that develop for a period of up to 6 months post-infection in some people, commonly referred to as long-COVID [27].

Table 1.

List of known symptoms ranging from common to severe in SARS-Cov2 and post-infection pathologies identified to date

Symptoms	Post-infection symptomology/pathology#
Common1  Fever*  Dry cough*  Dyspnea*  Headache  Dizziness  Generalised weakness  Vomiting  Diarrhoea	Persistent [99] [100] [28]  Dyspnea  Fatigue  Headache  Anosmia (from > 28 to 72 days post-infection exacerbated by increasing age, body mass index, and female) Neuropsychiatric [99] [101]  Insomnia  Fatigue  Cognitive impairment  Anxiety (up to 6 months post-infection) Multi-organ impairment [102] [103]  Heart (mild systolic dysfunction and myocarditis), lung, liver, pancreas Gastro-intestinal [104]8  Loss of appetite  Nausea  Acid reflux  Diarrhoea
Severe [105]  Hypoxia  Delirium  Encephalopathy  Hypercoagulability  Pulmonary fibrosis  Death

*Similar to SARS and MERS. ^#Commonly associated with Long COVID Syndrome

This brief summary of the emergence of coronaviruses along with the symptoms and pathology underscores the unpredictability with respect to the emergence of the virus as different strains, and the range of symptoms which can be experienced. Although vaccines are now available for SARS-CoV-2, containment and eradication should still be considered a strategy as the re-emergence of the virus does not guarantee that the human population will be protected from a new strain. In addition to containment and eradication, strategies to mitigate disease severity from future coronaviruses should also be highly advised.

SARS-CoV-2 and existing health status

It has been suggested that the world has been living with invisible pandemics such as obesity, sedentary behaviour, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases which now appear to be colliding with SARS-CoV-2 [28]. If this is the case, then the additional complexity with respect to symptoms and pathology of SARS-CoV-2 are likely related to the existing health status of the individual.

The emerging data suggest that the most severely affected are those with pre-existing comorbidities such as dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, which can lead to a higher risk of severe illness and intensive-care unit admission [29]. Other comorbidities which could progress the disease include metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypo- or hyperthyroidism, and dyslipidaemia [30]. Very recent evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 severity and mortality might be due to the associated virus-activated “cytokine storm syndrome” [31] or a chronic inflammatory environment associated with these comorbidities. Specifically, cytokines such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 [32]. This is also the case with T2DM [33]. Importantly, there seems to be a potentially critical role for body mass or adiposity with inflammation and the incidence of severe pneumonia, which now seems to be a complication in the end stage of SARS-CoV-2 [30]. Therefore, the impaired metabolic health associated with high adiposity could be a risk factor for increasing the severity of SARS-CoV-2. Added to this is the real possibility that existing non-infectious comorbidities are superimposed on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which pose a potentially enormous global population health risk until worldwide immunity occurs. A recent suggestion has also raised the question as to whether the pandemic will have a negative effect on population health given that many communities have been unable to leave their homes and engage in their normal activities (work, school, fitness facilities, parks, and playgrounds), whereby if this becomes the norm, it might lead to increased sedentary behaviour and less healthy lifestyles [28].

Given the propensity for morbidity and mortality with SARS-CoV-2, and the severity of symptoms likely linked to presence of low-grade systemic inflammation, future works need to explore viable interventions that may target inflammation, and thus reduce symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and the risk of associated complications. As such, the reduction in population and individual vulnerability through alleviation of comorbidities might be critical for both reduced disease severity, mortality, and herd immunity.

To this end, it has been well established that acute moderate-intensity exercise is capable of producing anti-inflammatory effects through secretion of myokines from the contracting skeletal muscle [34]. Furthermore, engagement in a long-term exercise has been shown to reduce chronic levels of CRP and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) [35]. Inflammatory cytokines produced during acute inflammation are responsible for a diverse range of signalling events within cells. These anti-inflammatory effects are also applicable to clinical population groups, reducing the inflammatory state and the risk of disease or associated symptoms related to the cardio-metabolic, auto-immune, and respiratory systems.

Overall, the emerging data and literature suggest that SARS-CoV-2 severity could be attenuated in individuals with a better inflammatory milieu [36] which can be achieved through improving healthy lifestyle behaviours across the lifespan potentially protecting individuals and communities from non-communicable diseases and viral infection [37]. For instance, it has recently been reported in a sample of 48, 440 individuals who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 that the odds of death were 2.49 times greater for those consistently inactive compared with individuals meeting the minimum physical activity guidelines [38], which suggests that habitual physical activity could play a role in ameliorating the disease trajectory.

It is yet to be directly and empirically investigated whether habitual exercisers have improved immunity with respect to SARS-CoV-2. There are, however, some promising data from a Brazilian study which reports that sufficient physical activity levels are associated with a lower prevalence of COVID-19-related hospitalizations with at least 150 min per week of moderate-intensity, or 75 min a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity potentially reducing this prevalence by 34.3% [18], 39. Thus, the mechanism by which either a chronically higher inflammatory environment, or conversely, an attenuated one could alter disease severity or progression needs urgent development and investigation as this could be a means to future-proof the health system and potentially mitigate disease severity and mortality should a similar zoonotic disease emerge.

Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 and the immune response

The morphology of SARS-CoV-2 is well reported with the spike or S-glycoprotein a key functional aspect of the virus. The spike protein presents two subtypes responsible for invasion into human cells, S1 and S2. In S1, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) interacts with angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) on the host cell, whereas the S2-binding domain is responsible for virus–cell membrane fusion and viral entry with higher affinity [40]. Interestingly, the ACE2 is present in the epithelial cells of the lung and in areas such as the heart, kidneys, gastro-intestinal tract, liver, and bladder, with adults generally demonstrating a higher expression of ACE2 [41].

Figure 1 depicts the cascade of events that are thought to occur when infected with SARS-CoV-2. Upon viral entry via the naso-oral cavity, the ACE2 receptor engages the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 to initiate replication [42]. Binding is detected by Toll-like receptor-7 (TLR-7), which then orchestrates the cascade of inflammatory cytokines, with disease severity hallmarked by IL-2, IL-17, Interferon (IFN-y) inducible protein 10, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1a), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and TNF-a [43]. During viral infections, T cells play a key regulatory role, with CD4 cells aiding B cells in antibody production and the signalling of other immune cells, whereas CD8 cells destroy infected cells to lower the viral burden [42]. However, once infected with SARS-CoV-2, epithelial lung cells produce IL-8 which then acts as a chemoattractant for neutrophils and T-lymphocytes. Consequently, exposure to persistent inflammatory signals is associated with the chronic activation of T cells and T-cell exhaustion [44], whereby a decline in function is observed. Lucas et al. [45] analysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma samples from those with moderate-to-severe SARS-CoV-2, and demonstrated substantial reductions in CD4 and CD8 T cells and increased expression of monocytes, low-density neutrophils, and eosinophils. T-cell exhaustion may then be responsible for the cytokine storm, suppression of T cells, B cells, and NK cells, as well as immune dysregulation. Identifying distinguishing characteristics of immune dysregulation may elucidate the underpinning mechanisms for severe and fatal cases of SARS-CoV-2 and indicate a management intervention.

Fig. 1.

As the SARS-CoV2 virus enters the respiratory system, it uses spike glycoprotein (S-protein) to neutralize antibodies and bind to the receptors of the host cell via 2 sub-units, S1 and S2. S1 initiates an immune response through binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor while S2 allows entry into the cell. Initiation of the immune response uses pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to recognise associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMPs). Binding of SARS-COV2 to ACE2 receptor initiates a cascade of responses including binding to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 and 7 and nuclear-factor kappa-B (NFKB) and interferon-regulatory factors (IRFs) instigate release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and macrophages, neutrophils, and T-helper 17 (TH17). Dendritic cells respond to the inflammatory response, activating T cells, and macrophages, all contributing to the cytokine storm. Presence of adipocytes secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines in addition to inflammation associated with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes may exacerbate the cytokine storm, exacerbating symptoms, and increasing risk of hospitalisation and death. Created with BioRender.com

SARS-CoV-2 and the cytokine storm

The ‘Cytokine Storm’ is a common term used to describe the extreme and complex inflammatory response to a viral infection, otherwise known as secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLsH), or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) [46]. The cytokine storm during SARS-CoV-2 has been particularly characterised by high levels of ferritin and pro-inflammatory cytokines [47], and elevated D-dimer [48], and can be associated with intravascular coagulation [49]. In a normal viral response, an antigen is recognised which activates the adaptive and innate immunity. The immune response results in the release of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. For various reasons (e.g., underlying conditions, previous exposure to stress, etc.), though many remain unknown, the inflammatory response is disproportionate to the viral load and results in hypercytokinemia, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, and, in extreme cases, death [49]. Given the rapidly developing research and reporting surrounding SARS-CoV-2, at the time of writing, the cytokine storm remains a popular hypothesis for severe infections which tend to lead to mortality, although others such as the bradykinin hypothesis have also recently been suggested [50].

In SARS-CoV-2, the underlying mechanisms of the cytokine storm are not fully understood and, in a recent paper [51], have been questioned. Nevertheless, impaired initial response of type-1 IFNs has been associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 [52] in addition to lymphocytopenia [48]. Moreover, autopsy results have shown specific atrophy in the spleen and other secondary lymphoid organs [53]. These impairments may account for a reduction in lymphocytes (e.g., CD4 and CD8 T cells) that are necessary for fighting off infection [53]. Indeed, it has been shown that peripheral blood lymphocyte cell counts of CD3, CD4, and CD8 were all attenuated with greater severity of disease [48]. In addition to reduced lymphocyte function, monocytes and macrophages are found to be upregulated [54]. Macrophages release cytokines and, when dysregulated, increase the propensity for the elevated cytokine response [55]. The primary cytokines that result in the cytokine storm include TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10, among others [52]. It is proposed that elevated levels of these cytokines can lead to increased viscosity of the blood [46] which can further increase the possibility of thromboembolism or vascular coagulation.

There are several pre-disposing mechanistic factors that increase the likelihood of the cytokine storm occurring secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infections, such as inefficient identification and clearing of the viral antigen and inadequate activation of interferons, epigenetic dysregulation of ACE2, and interferon-regulated genes [56], among several others [46]. Importantly, it is believed that the risk of mortality is greatly increased with underlying risk factors such as smoking and comorbidities such as T2DM, obesity, metabolic disease, and cardiovascular disease. The reason for this increased risk is likely due to one or a combination of the pre-disposing mechanistic factors at play in these conditions. These will be further described in detail below; however, the reader is reminded that in many instances, development of these conditions, and consequently, severe SARS-CoV-2 may be modulated by lifestyle.

Comorbidities that increase the risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection

While not an exhaustive list, the following section will highlight four comorbidities that are now reported and identified as potential to increase the severity of SARS-CoV-2 and the associated inflammatory profiles. They include: (1) hypertension, (2) cardiovascular disease, (3) obesity, and (4) diabetes mellitus. Following discussion of these conditions, the remainder of the review aims to highlight the impact of lifestyle modification—notably exercise and physical activity—and its potential to ameliorate the inflammatory response and associated severity of the current SARS-CoV-2. These lifestyle modifications are particularly important to reduce population-wide severity of future coronavirus pandemics that are expected to occur.

• i.Hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity

  Hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular morbidity have been identified as two underlying or pre-existing conditions that can increase the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease [57]. A recent meta-analysis of 29,750 patients identified that the prevalence of HTN and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SARS-CoV-2 patients was 32.7% and 18.2%, respectively. Although this study reported that neither pre-existing HTN nor CVD was associated with greater mortality, they did report that CVD was associated with greater levels of invasive mechanical ventilation [58]. In contrast, earlier studies have reported that poor outcomes are significantly greater for HTN and CVD patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2 [59], with one suggesting the case-fatality rate to be double for HTN and over triple for CVD [60].

  The mechanisms underlying disease severity in cases with HTN and CVD are not entirely clear. It is suggested that underlying CVD can be exacerbated by myocyte damage caused by hypoxia, in addition to the cytokine storm discussed above [58]. Further to this, people with HTN are often on anti-hypertensive medication such as ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. Such medications can inhibit the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system which may increase the vulnerability of individuals with HTN to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection [59]. Whether medications increase ACE2 expression on the cell surface or decrease ACE2 expression, the susceptibility of the individual to the virus is maintained and can lead to severe infection [59].

  In the absence of severe SARS-CoV-2 disease, both CVD and HTN have been associated with immune dysregulation and meta-inflammation. CVD is characterised by chronic inflammation where innate immune system activation results in cardiac damage [61] or responds to the rupture of plaque within the vessel in increases of endothelial dysfunction [61, 62]. The immunologic mechanism for HTN begins in the vascular wall, where increases in blood pressure promote oxidative damage causing upregulation of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and hypertensive-specific neoantigens. A further cascade through Toll-like receptors and dendritic cells leads to production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, while B cell and T cells can promote effector T cells to accumulate in blood vessels, the heart and kidneys [63]. Further increases in blood pressure augment this response, leading to vascular stiffness, fibrosis, and dysfunction [64]. Each of these can lead to structural changes in the vasculature, and in the heart, ultimately leading to myocardial infarction or heart failure in extreme cases. Mitigating the chronic inflammation associated with these conditions can attenuate overall risk of developing HTN or CVD and also the severity of disease if SARS-CoV-2 is contracted.

• ii.Obesity and diabetes mellitus

  While the risk of fatal outcome from contracting SARS-CoV-2 is reported to be higher in those with T2DM [65], recent literature suggests that the presence of diabetes does not increase the likelihood of infection; rather, it will influence the course of the infection [66]. Immune dysregulation reported in metabolic conditions such as T2DM includes dysfunction of NK cells, B cells, T cells, and cytokine signalling pathways [65]. Given the immune dysregulation in T2DM, it is not surprising that both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus were independently associated with increased odds of in-hospital fatality from SARS-CoV-2 [67]. In support, it has also been reported that T2DM patients demonstrate a higher inflammatory response, higher neutrophils, and CRP with lower lymphocyte and eosinophil counts, and a more aggressive course of the disease [68]. Similarly, obese individuals demonstrate insulin resistance, elevated systemic inflammation, and over activity of the RAAS [69]. For example, the pathophysiological traits of obesity, such as elevated adiposity and associated inflammation, increase the susceptibility to more severe disease outcomes [70]. The specific physiological reason for this observation is not entirely clear. However, as already outlined, adults generally demonstrate higher expression of ACE2, and given the apparent higher expression of ACE2 in adipose tissue, it is highly possible that adipose tissue might act as a viral reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 infection [71, 72]. Therefore, obesity presents as a significant risk factor for infection and disease severity. As such, lifestyle modifications associated with reducing adiposity and associated inflammation may be favourable in ameliorating the severity of SARS-Cov2 [73].

In metabolic disease such as T2DM and obesity, adipose tissue exhibits a regulatory role in cytokine release; termed adipokines, the cytokines released from adipocytes are involved in the aetiology of diabetes, insulin resistance, and the development of atherosclerosis [74]. Particularly, those who present with T2DM demonstrate an exaggerated inflammatory profile/cytokine expression [75]. Notably, the presence of TNF-α in T2DM may prime neutrophils, and this excessive activation of neutrophils may contribute to inflammatory injury (that is, ARDS) [76]. In normal immune reactions, the priming of neutrophils regulates the intensity of the immune response. However, in conditions such as T2DM, where elevated immune-inflammatory markers are a key pathological characteristic, the presence of TNF-α may enhance the neutrophil response and may aid in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-related manifestations such as ARDS and inflammatory tissue injury. Furthermore, neutrophilia is predictive of poor patient outcomes, with the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio an independent risk factor for severe disease outcomes [77].

Habitual physical activity on meta-inflammation for SARS-CoV-2 defence

Meta-inflammation refers to the low-grade, chronic inflammatory state that is present in many chronic health conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders [78]. Positive benefits are associated with chronic resistance and/or aerobic exercise training which attenuates meta-inflammation in both women and men in such conditions, and with increasing age [79]. However, a recent meta-analysis looking at the effects of aerobic exercise on TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP markers in middle-to-older aged adults suggested that further randomized controlled trials should be undertaken to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on markers other than those listed above, and strengthen the evidence for or against attenuating IL-6. Importantly, while the SARS-CoV-2 cytokine storm is known to involve many different types of inflammatory markers, it is widely perceived that the presence of ‘meta-inflammation’, typically marked by elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) due to greater levels of adipose tissue and adipokines, pre-disposes an individual to greater risk and severity of the disease. Therefore, mitigating meta-inflammation through habitual exercise could be a particularly important defence mechanism against SARS-CoV-2.

In the previous section, we briefly outlined the relationship that comorbidities (HTN, CVD and obesity, and diabetes mellitus) have with the risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 based on the inflammatory consequences of these conditions. Here, we outline the known benefits of exercise on the inflammatory responses in these comorbidities with respect to improving the inflammatory profile as a first line of defence for ameliorating the chronic disease, and in so doing reducing the likelihood of severe symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 if infected. Figure 2 is a representation of the benefits and the intervention that exercise is thought to have in conferring a level of protection against severe COVID-19.

Fig. 2.

Following the SAR-COV2 entering the respiratory system, the cascade of events as outlined in Fig. 1 proceeds, including secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, initiation of macrophages and response from dendritic cells, all of which contribute to the development of a cytokine storm, with the presence of high adiposity (obesity) or pre-existing conditions increasing risk of hospitalisation or death. As outlined above, lower adiposity reduces the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines which contribute to the storm. Furthermore, regular engagement in physical activity and exercise reduces risk of comorbidities and facilitates the release anti-inflammatory myokines due to muscle contraction, also reducing the likelihood of a cytokine storm following infection with SARS-COV2. Created with BioRender.com

It has been well documented in humans and animal models that moderate, habitual exercise can improve the inflammation and oxidative stress in HTN. For example, the progression of HTN in young spontaneously hypertensive rats was investigated with moderate-intensity exercise over a 16 week period [80]. As expected, chronic exercise in hypertensive rats resulted in reduced blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy with improved diastolic function. Importantly, these modifications were also accompanied by significant decreases in both myocardial and circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. In humans, the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α are elevated with increasing blood pressure and hypertension [81]. Although a range of pharmacological interventions reduce HTN and can have favourable outcomes with respect to mortality and cardiovascular incidence rates [82], pharmacological interventions appear to have a limited effect on the level of inflammation associated with either HTN or CVD, possibly because the benefits derived from anti-hypertensive drugs are largely specific, e.g., diuretics reduce the incidence of stroke and heart failure but not the incidence of myocardial infarction or predisposition to the development of T2DM [83].

In contrast, either acute or habitual exercise as a therapy has been shown to improve and reduce the progression of HTN through a multifactorial process which includes improved autonomic control [84], modulation of catecholamine response [85], and decreases in vascular resistance [86]. These physiological adaptations are also accompanied by improved pro-inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP in hypertensive individuals [87]. The improved blood pressure and cardiovascular function which is accompanied by more favourable inflammatory biomarkers places exercise as a powerful option in the defence against the threat of a cytokine storm that would be superimposed by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

There is now good evidence that both aerobic and resistance exercise training or a combination improves the fat-free mass for both men and women after 10 weeks of training, albeit that there is a biased dose–response relationship between men and women; a higher fat-free mass gain for men [88]. In a study comparing resistance, aerobic, and control participants over 10 weeks, exercise training was not found to reduce IL-6 [89]. However, these authors did find that resistance and aerobic exercise individually reduced CRP by 32.8% and 16.1%, respectively from baseline. Although at baseline, CRP was positively correlated with IL-6, fat mass, and intra-abdominal mass and was inversely correlated with aerobic fitness measures. However, a salient finding was that adiposity was differentially reduced for both exercise groups (intra-abdominal fat for aerobic vs. total body fat mass for resistance training). The totality of these findings suggests that reductions in adiposity by either aerobic or resistance training may improve the inflammatory profile, since higher adiposity is also associated with inflammatory cytokine regulation [90].

We have also previously reported that habitual exercise ameliorates chronic inflammation in T2DM [91] a candidate comorbidity for severe SARS-CoV-2. In this study, 2 months of moderate exercise, 3 days per week resulted in a reduction in chronic inflammation in such markers as IL-6 and CRP in previously sedentary middle-aged men. Interestingly, our additional study suggests that it is even more critical to increase physical activity and reduce adiposity and associated inflammatory response for the Indigenous population [92]. This is particularly important given that there is emerging evidence that ethnicity may also be a factor in contracting SARS-CoV-2 [93], which may be influenced by potential biological and socio-economic factors. To that end, recent analyses of hospital admissions indicate that access to care is a key determinant of vulnerability, since outcomes were not different between ethnic groups; rather, age, sex, insurance, and existing comorbidities were associated with higher risk of all-cause-in-hospital mortality [94].

Conclusion

In summary, acute and habitual physical activity is associated with reduced adiposity and thus reduces the likelihood of systemic inflammation. Habitual exercise is known to improve metabolic, cardiovascular, and cardiorespiratory capacities which provides resilience in the face of viral threats such as SARS-CoV-2. The emerging evidence indicates that the risk of SARS-CoV-2-related complications and mortality appears to be higher in individuals with comorbidities, and/or evidence of systemic inflammation. For this reason, engagement in habitual physical activity and exercise should be highly recommended as a strategy to improve the immune system and its response, thereby potentially reducing the risk of symptoms and life-threatening complications if infected.

Abbreviations

ACE2

Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2

ARDS

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

CD4

Glycoprotein serving as co-receptor for T-cell receptor

CD8

Transmembrane glycoprotein serving as co-receptor for T-cell receptor

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COVID-19

Clinical disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection

CVD

Cardiovascular Disease

CRP

C-reactive protein

GCSF

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor

HTN

Hypertension

IL

Interleukin

IFN

Interferon

IFN-γ

Interferon type II

MAS

Macrophage Activation Syndrome

MERS

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

MCP-1

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1

MIP-1α

Macrophage inflammatory protein-alpha

NK

Natural killer cells

RBD

Receptor-binding domain

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SARS-CoV-2

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2

T2DM

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

TLR

Toll-like receptor

TNF-α

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha

URTI

Upper respiratory tract infection

Author contributions

FM coordinated the research team and provided the structure for the manuscript. All members contributed equally to writing and analysis of published research.

Funding

Funding for this review was received from a Charles Sturt University COVID-19 Research Grant.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

All authors consent to the submission and publication of the manuscript if accepted.