Max Planck team discovers a new phase of the immune response for better vaccinations!

Max Planck team discovers a new phase of the immune response for better vaccinations!

A team of the Max Planck Research Group for System Immunology at the University of Würzburg has discovered an unknown phase of the immune response that could have far-reaching effects on vaccinations and cellular immunotherapy. These research results published in the renowned specialist journal "Science" represent a significant expansion of understanding how the immune system reacts to viral diseases. T cells in particular, central defense cells of the immune system, play a key role in this process by reproducing and specializing in efficiently eliminating infected cells.

The researchers under the direction of Wolfgang Kastenmüller and Georg Gasteiger use innovative microscope techniques to observe T cells in detail. The first step in the activation of the T cells, known as a T-cell priming, takes place when T cells in the lymph nodes take to dendritic cells (DCS) that present antigens. This activation takes about 24 hours, during which T cells are instructed and stay in contact with DCS. After that, the activated T cells hike, turn into effector cells or memory cells and multiply to specifically combat the specific pathogenic.

The phases of the T cell activation

The study identifies two crucial phases in T cell activation. In the first phase, many specific T cells are activated, while the second phase serves to select and reproduce those T cells that most effectively recognize the pathogen. These findings are particularly promising for the improvement of immunotherapies, especially in cancer therapy, where Car T cells are used.

The adaptive immune response is activated when the congenital immunity, which is conveyed by sensor cells of innate immunity, has to be overcome. These sensor cells recognize and activate the adaptive immune response. Naive T cells that move through the blood and lymphatic tissue require specific antigens in the form of peptide: MHC complexes for activation. Thus, the presentation of antigens by dendritic cells is crucial for initiating the T-Zell reaction.

Integration of the immune response

The collaboration between congenital and adaptive immunity shows that innate immunity is often effective in the early phases of an infection, while the adaptive immune response needs several days to weeks to fully mature. Naive lymphocytes differ under the influence of innate immunity in T-effector cells and antibody-producing B cells. This interaction leads to the development of an immunological memory, which can be activated quickly when you are in contact with the same pathogen.

Overall, cytokines and chemokines play a central role in the regulation of the immune response, with different T cell subgroups such as TH1, TH2 and TH17 cells perform different functions in combating pathogenic. In the long term, these discoveries could revolutionize the development of new vaccination strategies and therapies against chronic infections and cancer. The Max Planck Research Group for System Immunology combines around 50 international researchers from 24 countries and thus promotes excellent immunological research.

For further information on these exciting developments in immune research, interested parties can read the original publications and explanatory articles on the following links: Uni Würzburg , pmc and pmc .