Unveiling the wonder world of the immune cells: new knowledge from Bonn s research world

Unveiling the wonder world of the immune cells: new knowledge from Bonn s research world

immune cells play a crucial role in the defense against viruses in the body. Bonn researchers have gained new insights into how immune cells communicate with each other in order to act effectively against pathogens. By examining the chemocin CCL3 using innovative technologies, they found that natural killer cells (NK cells) play an important role in the production of CCL3. These cells are not only responsible for forming the signal protein, but also the main recipients during a virus infection.

The research results published in the "Journal of Experimental Medicine" show that NK cells are in a permanent alarm state in order to be able to react quickly to a virus infection. As soon as the body releases the alarm signal type I Interferon, the NK cells begin to produce the chemokin CCL3. This protein serves as a car/paracrines signal, through which the NK cells communicate with each other and coordinate their antiviral reaction.

The development of the CCL3-seaser mice enabled the researchers to identify both the producers and the sensors of chemokin in a model system. This new, experimental strategy can also be applied to other signal proteins that are released in various infections, inflammation or cancer. Through the work of the Bonn researchers, the complex choreography of the immune cells is increasingly understood in the defense against viruses.