How to reprogram cells in our immune system
A colorized scanning electron micrograph of a T cell. Credit score: NIAID When the immune system is imbalanced, both as a result of overly-active cells or cells that suppress its operate, it causes a variety of ailments, from psoriasis to most cancers. By manipulating the operate of sure immune cells, known as T cells, researchers may assist restore the system's steadiness and create new therapies to focus on these ailments. Scientists on the Gladstone Institutes revealed, for the primary time, a technique to reprogram particular T cells. Extra exactly, they found tips on how to flip pro-inflammatory cells that increase the immune system into anti-inflammatory cells that suppress it, and vice versa. The researchers studied two forms of cells known as effector T cells, which activate the immune system to defend our physique towards completely different pathogens, and regulatory T cells, which assist m...