Subtypes and developmental pathways of innate T cells identified

Date:
September 2, 2020
Source:
Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Summary:
Study finds T cells differentiate into memory cells before meeting
antigens - a clue to developing new immunotherapy.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== There are memory cells that remember previously encountered pathogens
and help to react quickly and strongly when exposed to them again. The developmental process of strong immune cells that make these memory cells
in advance without having to encounter the pathogens have been discovered.


========================================================================== Understanding the developmental process of these cells, which are
responsible for biodefense in places where contact with pathogens are
common such as lungs, intestines and skin is anticipated to be used as fundamental data to overcome various infectious diseases or malignant
tumors caused by immune dysregulation.

The National Research Foundation of Korea has announced (President
Jung-Hye Roe) that the joint research team from the Korea Advanced
Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Yonsei University Health Systems -- led by professors You Jeong Lee and Sanguk Kim of Pohang
Institute of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and Professor Jong Kyoung
Kim of Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) --
have identified the developmental process of novel immune T cells. These research findings were published in the international journal Nature Communications on August 31.

T cells, which play an essential role in eliminating pathogens and cancer
cells such as viruses, germs and fungi, including the recently prevalent COVID-19, have more than 10 different subtypes.

The recently discovered innate T cell is made in active form from the developmental stage without having encountered the pathogen and account
for 20- 30% of all T cells, but its production process or role was not
well known. In response, the team focused on the developmental process
of three congenital T cells common in humans and mice: natural killer
T cells, gamma delta T cells, and MAIT cells.

These cells, which were believed to have disparate developmental systems
and functions through single cell genomic analysis, actually share
the same developmental path from each precursor and has been found to differentiate into functional subtypes that secrete the same cytokines,
such as interferon gamma, interleukin-4, and interleukin-17.

In examining the composition of congenital T cell subtypes, mice have many natural killer T cells, but humans have many MAIT cells or gamma-delta
T cells.

Because of this, strong anti-cancer and antiviral efficacy of natural
killer T cells that secrete interferon gamma in mice are verified but
it is difficult to expect the equal effect in humans who possess a very
low number of natural killer T cells.

The study has found that MAIT cells or gamma-delta T cells in humans
are functionally equivalent to the natural killer T cells in mice. The
research team anticipates that immunotherapy using MAIT and gamma-delta T cells, which secrete interferon gamma in humans, will produce anti-cancer
and antiviral effects as they do in mice in the future.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Pohang_University_of_Science_&_Technology_(POSTECH).

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Minji Lee, Eunmin Lee, Seong Kyu Han, Yoon Ha Choi, Dong-il Kwon,
Hyobeen
Choi, Kwanghwan Lee, Eun Seo Park, Min-Seok Rha, Dong Jin
Joo, Eui-Cheol Shin, Sanguk Kim, Jong Kyoung Kim, You Jeong
Lee. Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies shared differentiation
paths of mouse thymic innate T cells. Nature Communications, 2020;
11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020- 18155-8 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200902091123.htm

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