The popular manga "Cells at Work" is known for making viewers want to take better care of their health! It was adapted into an anime in July 2018, and is sure to continue to attract attention. This work depicts the daily lives of tiny cells living inside the body, and many dramatic events unique to cells occur.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
While some parts of the manga are somewhat exaggerated, when you think about the cells in our bodies fulfilling their respective roles every day, it's somehow quite admirable.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
"Cells at Work!" is home to many memorable scenes. This time, we'll introduce the top 10 memorable scenes from "Cells at Work!"
A Small but Magnificent Story
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
"Cells at Work!" is a work that anthropomorphizes the daily activities of the tens of trillions of cells that reside within the human body. The human body is well-designed, and its vast numbers of cells faithfully perform systematic movements to sustain life.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Each cell is tiny, but the fact that they are constantly swarming and working within a single body is truly a grand-scale story.
#10: Clear away pollen! Steroids
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This is the story of what happens when cedar pollen invades the body. While the pollen is eliminated one by one by white blood cells and B cells, mast cells react to the pollen and secrete large amounts of histamine, causing an allergic reaction in the body.
When an allergic reaction occurs, the body secretes large amounts of nose fluids, sneezes, and tears, causing a flood of cells.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Meanwhile, a red blood cell arrives to deliver a mysterious black sphere to the body. From within emerges a robotic steroid. Steroid begins exploding everywhere in an attempt to wipe out the cedar pollen. Although the cedar pollen was successfully eliminated, the surrounding area was also affected, causing considerable inconvenience to the cells.
Steroids Have Side Effects
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Steroids are drugs known as "adrenal cortical hormones." They have strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, suppressing symptoms and allergic reactions caused by excessive histamine secretion. In the story, he plays a role in clearing up a cedar pollen commotion.
However, if taken in excess, this steroid can cause side effects. Care must be taken when using it to avoid causing trouble to the cells.
No. 9: Laughter is energizing! NK Cells
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
NK cells, or natural killer cells, are a type of cell that patrols the body and attacks cancer cells and virus-infected cells upon detection. In the series, they play an important role in eliminating cancer cells, along with neutrophils and killer T cells.
One day, these NK cells were facing off against cancer cells. The cancer cells were overwhelming the immune cells with their powerful fighting power, and the NK cells were in a pinch. Then, suddenly, one of the NK cells bursts out in laughter, and becomes even more powerful.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
In fact, NK cells are activated when the stimulation of laughter reaches the diencephalon, actively producing neuropeptides, which attach to NK cells. Therefore, NK cells that laugh heartily become more powerful and successfully defeat cancer cells.
After seeing this scene, many people will likely realize that laughing is actually good for your health.
NK cells are vulnerable to stress
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
NK cells are activated by laughter, but stress, on the other hand, reduces lymphocyte activity, weakening the immune system and weakening the body. They share similar characteristics with us: they feel energized when they laugh and weaken when they're stressed.
#8: Dendritic Cells Energize Everyone
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Dendritic cells, like the large tree of cells with protrusions extending outward, are responsible for presenting virus-infected cells and bacterial fragments that have invaded the body as antigens and communicating them to other immune system cells.
Dendritic cells have other roles as well. They can also activate immune cells. The method for doing so is depicted in a unique way in the series.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Immune cells struggling against harmful bacteria are encouraged to activate by spreading embarrassing photos from the past. It seems like this character is manipulating various things behind the scenes.
Embarrassing photos are made of substances called cytokines
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
The embarrassing photos that activate immune cells are made of substances called cytokines. Dendritic cells produce these cytokines, which activate immune cells.
This is a terrible thing for immune cells.
No. 7: Memory Cell Prophecy... Memory Cells
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Memory cells are responsible for remembering antigens, such as bacteria, that have previously invaded the body. These memorized antigens allow B cells to produce antibodies, which can then fight bacteria and other microorganisms.
As a character, these memory cells remember bacteria they have seen in the past as part of ancient legends, and when cedar pollen attacks, they predict within the body that a major disaster will occur that will signal the end of the world.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
It's true that they suffered terrible experiences, such as the flood caused by a histamine-induced allergic reaction and the catastrophe caused by steroids. However, their memory cells must have seen the same scenes in the past, but they have completely forgotten them.
Forgetful Memory Cells
Source: Cells at Work © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Although these cells are supposed to remember past invaders, even when the same thing happens again, they don't consider it a past event, but rather remember it as an ancient legend, which often leads to delayed response.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
In particular, for B cells, which produce antibodies in response to antigens presented by memory cells, memory cells that don't remember the essential information are extremely useless.
No. 6: What role can only eosinophils play?
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Eosinophils are a type of immune cell. They are completely ineffective against bacteria that invade the body, and are viewed by those around them as unreliable. However, the role of eosinophils is not to eliminate bacteria, but to eliminate parasites that have invaded the body.
Eosinophils are specialists when it comes to eliminating parasites, and when Anisakis invaded the body, they were able to successfully defeat it while other immune cells struggled.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
While there are many types of cells in the body, it's clear that some cells play specific roles like this.
Eosinophils are weak when praised
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Eosinophils' popularity soared after defeating Anisakis. While usually viewed as a shy creature by those around them, they suddenly received cheers of applause. Although he's usually a cool eosinophil, he seems to be weak when praised, as he showed us a blushing grin.
5th Place: "Bye-bye, Germs" - White Blood Cell
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This is a memorable scene from Episode 1. The white blood cell was struggling against the pneumococcus bacteria, but by successfully luring it into the bronchi, it succeeds in expelling it from the body with a sneeze.
Then, the white blood cell utters the catchphrase, "Bye-bye, germs!"
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
That's a line I feel like I've heard somewhere before. The exquisite parody is one of the charms of this work. This scene from episode 1 really captures what kind of manga "Cells at Work" is.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Other "Cells at Work!" Parody Scenes
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
In addition to the "bye-bye germs" scene, "Cells at Work!" also features a subtle parody scene. It's about dengue fever.
The dengue fever virus, which entered the body via mosquitoes, takes the form of a Tengu mask. Captivated by the mysterious charm of the mask, Langerhans cells put it on and become infected with the dengue fever virus.
This scene reminded me of Dio putting on his mask in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure."
4th Place: T Cell Perforin Cannon Punch!! Killer T Cell
Source: Cells at Work! ©Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Killer T cells are normally assassins who eliminate bacteria and viruses that enter the body.
When cancer cells attack, the immune system finds itself in a pinch due to their overwhelming power. As immune cells begin to give up, killer T cells unleash their final weapon, the "T Cell Perforin Cannon Punch."
This technique uses perforin, a substance released by killer T cells when attacking infected cells. From the killer T cells' perspective, this legendary technique can only be unleashed when their desire to protect their body is at its highest, and it exists as their ultimate secret weapon.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
In a pinch, the killer T cells unleash their "T Cell Perforin Cannon Punch" and defeat the cancer cells.
A Technique He'd Practiced Since His Thymus Days
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Killer T Cell has been practicing this "T Cell Perforin Cannon Punch" since his days at Thymus School. Despite being mocked by those around him, who said he couldn't possibly pull off such a technique, he continued to work hard, and as a result, he was able to successfully perform the technique at the most crucial moment.
3rd Place: Platelets, Clotting Wounds with Blood Clots! Platelets
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Platelets are rapidly gaining popularity in the "Cells at Work!" series. Their small bodies perform big tasks, and they play a major role in the series.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
In the story about the scrape, while the white blood cells struggle to contain the bacteria that have invaded the wound, they create a blood clot to seal the wound and prevent further infestation. Even in times of crisis, they're reliable workers who continue to get the job done as usual.
Fibrin and Clotting Factors Necessary for Work
Source: Cells at Work © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Fibrin and clotting factors are essential for platelets to seal wounds.
Fibrin is a protein involved in blood clotting, and clotting factors create a mesh-like seal around the wound. After forming a blood clot, platelets use surrounding blood cells to create a secondary clot, which dries and forms a scab.
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
We all see scrapes all the time, but it's fun to imagine these adorable platelets at work when they do.
No. 2: What is the purpose of cancer cells?
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Cancer cells secretly grow within the body. Originally normal cells, they have become uncontrollably proliferating due to genetic abnormalities. These cells can metastasize to surrounding cells, causing dysfunction in other cells within the body.
The immune cells that confront these cancer cells struggle, but eventually succeed in defeating them.
Source: Cells at Work © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
However, from the perspective of cancer cells, they are burdened with an unreasonable fate: they must be killed simply because they were born. Cancer cells are harmful to humans, but from their perspective, it's hard to understand why they were born.
The cancer cell's last words...
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
The cancer cell tormented the immune cells, but ultimately, with the help of macrophages and B cells that came to its aid, it was defeated.
As the cancer cell died, its last words were...
"Ahh!"
It was a fitting end for a cancer cell.
No. 1: Macrophages Push Through with Brute Force
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that capture and kill foreign substances like bacteria, find antigens and immune signals, and act as cleaners, clearing away dead cells and bacteria. They have an extremely high bacterial killing ability, and despite their elegant appearance, they eliminate bacteria with a dynamic fighting style.
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu/Kodansha, Aniplex, David Production
This is a scene from a macrophage. It appears to eliminate Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that has appeared in the body. It declares, "I'll push through with all my might!" and instantly eliminates the bacteria.
This is a striking episode that demonstrates the macrophage's powerful killing ability.
Macrophages also play a role in developing red blood cells
Source: Cells at Work! © Akane Shimizu / Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
Macrophages not only eliminate bacteria, but also play a role in the development of erythroblasts born in the bone marrow, helping them develop into red blood cells. Macrophages are assassins and cleaners, but they also have a side as nursery teachers.
Summary
Source: Cells at Work! © Shimizu Akane/Kodansha, Aniplex, davidproduction
This series was packed with memorable moments and events that only cells could create. We look forward to seeing these cells continue to play an active role in the future.
