A new study reveals a rare type of T cell, called ID3+ T cells, that can resist exhaustion and sustain long-term immune responses, offering hope for improved treatments for chronic diseases and cancer.
A groundbreaking discovery by researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) has shed light on the mechanisms that enable the immune system to maintain long-term protection. This research, published in Science Immunology, focuses on a rare type of immune cell called stem-like T cells, which hold the key to sustaining powerful, enduring immune responses.
These stem-like T cells, characterized by the expression of a specific protein called ID3, exhibit a remarkable ability to self-renew and resist exhaustion, unlike other T cells that lack ID3. This unique property allows them to fight infections and cancer cells for extended periods, overcoming the limitations of conventional T cell responses that often become depleted over time. Researchers have identified that certain signals within the body can stimulate the production of these ID3+ T cells, paving the way for innovative treatment strategies. Enhancing ID3 activity, for instance, could potentially improve the effectiveness and longevity of CAR T cell therapy, a groundbreaking treatment for certain cancers. While CAR T therapy has shown remarkable success, its effectiveness can diminish due to T cell exhaustion. By bolstering ID3 activity, these cells could be strengthened, leading to more sustained and impactful therapies. The findings also offer hope for the development of vaccines that provide long-lasting protection against diseases. The ability of ID3+ T cells to resist burnout and maintain a robust immune response for extended periods suggests they could be instrumental in combating chronic diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and C, and various cancers.
Immunotherapy T Cells Cancer Chronic Diseases ID3 Protein
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