These white blood cells move throughout the body, repairing tissues where they are needed, experts find
A special box for transporting human organs for transplant is seen at the Transplant Center of Bahia, in the city of Salvador, Brazil. iStock photo for representation
Scientists at Cambridge University have discovered a new property of Regulatory T cells, a type of white blood cell. It is a discovery that could have a significant impact on the treatment of a wide range of diseases, especially inflammatory ones.
The researchers found that Regulatory T cells move in unison throughout the body, seeking out and repairing damaged tissues. This discovery upends the previous assumption that Regulatory T cells exist as multiple specialised populations, restricted to specific parts of the body.
The finding holds promise as almost all diseases and injuries activate the immune system.
The discovery could be particularly effective in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The current class of anti-inflammatory drugs targets the entire body rather than the specific area requiring repair.
The scientists hope these results will enable the development of drugs that precisely target the disease-affected areas, enhancing treatment efficacy and minimising unwanted side effects.
The experts were analysing Regulatory T cell populations in 48 different tissues of mice when they found that these cells are not specialised and static to any particular areas. Instead, they move throughout the body, repairing tissues where they are needed.
Adrian Liston in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Pathology and senior author of the paper, referred to this as a ‘Unified Repair Army’. He stated that these cells can perform a multitude of repair functions and hold potential for much more, from repairing injured muscles to improving fat cells’ response to insulin and even promoting hair follicle regrowth.
Scientists have already developed a drug based on this research that targets specific cells within the body, increases their numbers, and activates them to suppress the immune system, promoting repairing in a specific organ or tissue. This simplifies the treatment process significantly and is particularly beneficial for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and infections.
Another case where this discovery can lead to better treatments is in organ transplants. Currently, individuals who receive organ transplants must take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent organ rejection, as the body mounts a severe immune response against the transplanted organ. However, this makes them highly vulnerable to infections.
The new findings will aid in designing drugs that specifically shut down the body’s immune response against the transplanted organ while allowing the rest of the immune system to function normally. This will enable patients to lead healthier and more normal lives.
The researchers are currently fundraising to establish a spin-out company with the goal of conducting clinical trials within the next few years.
The tissue-resident regulatory T cell pool is shaped by transient multi-tissue migration and a conserved residency program was published in the journal Immunity on June 18.
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