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Dead cells disrupt how immune cells respond to wounds and patrol for infection

Date:
May 21, 2019
Source:
University of Sheffield
Summary:
Immune cells prioritize the clearance of dead cells overriding their normal migration to sites of injury. A research paves the way for new therapies to manipulate how white blood cells get to and are kept at sites of injuries during healing.
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Dead cells disrupt immune responses and undermine defence against infection, new research has found.

The study, led by scientists at the University of Sheffield, revealed that cells which are programmed to die, a process known as apoptosis, can disrupt the normal function of immune cells, called macrophages. This can impact on how well they respond to wounds and patrol the body to seek out infection.

Our macrophages are needed at wound sites to prevent infection and to aid healing processes, but these white blood cells can also cause and worsen many human diseases, including cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS Biology, show that immune cells prioritise the clearance of dead cells, which overrides their normal migration to sites of injury, impairing immune responses.

The research, which seeks to understand how immune cells are controlled, could help pave the way for new therapies to manipulate these cells and accelerate healing processes. This study gives scientists new insights into the mechanisms that control immune cells within our bodies, such as how they get to and are kept at sites of injuries.

Dr Iwan Evans, from the Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sheffield who co-author of the paper, said: "Billions of cells die within our bodies on a daily basis and many of these are removed and digested by our immune cells.

"If this removal process goes wrong it can lead to damaging autoimmune conditions. Excessive or inappropriate immune responses worsen or cause a very broad range of human diseases from cancer to neurodegeneration.

"This work studies fundamental biological processes that are going on inside our bodies everyday that are necessary to keep us healthy."

The research to investigate the interactions between dying cells and immune cells was conducted using fruit flies which contain macrophage-like cells highly similar to our own immune cells. The new study also uncovered a novel role for a protein called Six-Microns-Under (or Simu) in keeping immune cells at sites of injury. Without this protein the macrophages left wound sites precociously.

Hannah Roddie, fellow co-author of the study and Research Associate at the Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Sheffield, said: "The study shows that the way fruit fly blood cells respond to injuries and dying cells is even more similar to how our own immune cells respond than previously thought.

"We are now looking into what signals macrophages use to track down dying cells and how they choose between the dead cells and wounds. We're fascinated to understand how immune cells are kept at the sites of injuries."


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Sheffield. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Hannah Grace Roddie, Emma Louise Armitage, Jonathon Alexis Coates, Simon Andrew Johnston, Iwan Robert Evans. Simu-dependent clearance of dying cells regulates macrophage function and inflammation resolution. PLOS Biology, 2019; 17 (5): e2006741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006741

Cite This Page:

University of Sheffield. "Dead cells disrupt how immune cells respond to wounds and patrol for infection." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 May 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521075100.htm>.
University of Sheffield. (2019, May 21). Dead cells disrupt how immune cells respond to wounds and patrol for infection. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521075100.htm
University of Sheffield. "Dead cells disrupt how immune cells respond to wounds and patrol for infection." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521075100.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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