Monocytes, Macrophages, and Exercise Prescription: A New Frontier in Immunomodulation

Exercise is a well-established non-pharmacological intervention with wide-ranging benefits for human health. Among its many physiological effects, exercise exerts significant immunomodulatory functions, particularly influencing monocyte and macrophage activity. In this review, we summarize current findings on how acute and chronic exercise of varying modalities affect monocyte/macrophage mobilization, polarization, and function. We also discuss the implications of these changes in the context of exercise-mediated protection against inflammatory, metabolic, oncologic, neurodegenerative, and musculoskeletal diseases. Furthermore, we highlight emerging mechanisms through which exercise modulates monocyte/macrophage biology, including the roles of exerkines, neuroendocrine signaling, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). A better understanding of these pathways may offer new insights into the development of exercise-based strategies for immune regulation and disease intervention.