The approach described in the journal Science does not train the immune system. Instead it mimics the way immune cells communicate with each other.
It is given as a nasal spray and leaves white blood cells in our lungs – called macrophages – on “amber alert” and ready to jump into action no matter what infection tries to get in.
The effect lasted for around three months in animal experiments.
I’m no immunologist, but there has to be a reason why we evolved so our immune system doesn’t constantly stay on “amber alert”. There has got to be drawbacks.
So one of the reasons asbestos is so dangerous is that it gets in your lungs where macrophages detect it as being foreign and try to destroy it. The issue is that asbestos is way larger than these cells and it’s pretty resilient so they can’t break it apart and eat it. The cells "get frustrated " so they start releasing inflammatory substances trying to find a way to neutralize this foreign body. That prolonged inflammation is what eventually leads to mesothelioma and other cancers.
I’m not sure how they plan to avoid the inflammation caused by these cells being in constant fighting infection mode.
But the way evolution works is “whatever works that keeps the species alive”.
We haven’t evolved reading glasses, but they are helpful devices with very few downsides.
That said, there may well be unintended consequences and effects, sure.
I think of it this way. The immune system is like an army, ready to fight off foreign invaders. If you were a king, would you want a huge standing army at all times, or the ability to draft soldiers as needed? Having a huge standing army is not only a waste of resources if there isn’t anything to fight, but your soldiers might get bored and invent things to fight or just stir up trouble.
So my guess is you’d be prone to inflammation and develop food sensitivities, but it’s a total guess. If they were the case though, chronic inflammation is really bad long term.
I’d be really worried about autoimmune reactions. I swear there’s been a few Trek episodes where some kind of universal vaccine has unintended consequences.
Same. Every major corona infection I suffered has set off my immune system for months, leading to debilitating nerve and joint pain. Even some vaccinations trigger this.
I’m not sure I’d put any truck into fictional sci-fi where everything needs a good story, so any positive needs a negative…
…but I get it. And yeah, it’s a worry.
