In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 3 ( 2014-05-19)
Abstract:
The human body's ability to defend itself against pathogens relies on two distinct but connected systems: the innate and the adaptive immune systems. Innate immune cells survey their environment and use receptors located on their surface to distinguish between molecules that are harmless and molecules that stem from pathogens. When the cells of the innate immune system detect a pathogen, they secrete signaling molecules to alert adaptive immune cells to the invaders. Both sets of immune cells then mount a coordinated attack that usually kills the pathogen. The adaptive immune system also produces memory cells that retain information about the pathogen: this allows the organism to mount a fast and efficient immune response the next time the same type of pathogen strikes. However, it is not completely understood how the innate immune system communicates with the adaptive immune system to allow these processes to take place. One of the signaling molecules involved in the communication between different types of immune cells is a protein called Interleukin 6 (IL-6). This protein must be produced in order to trigger the immune response: however, many immune cells are able to recognize and respond to IL-6, so it has been difficult to study its impact on specific cell types. Nish et al. have now investigated the effects of IL-6 on T cells, one of the main types of adaptive immune cell, by creating mice with T cells that are not able to recognize IL-6. The detection of pathogens by innate immune cells normally has several effects: the population of T cells increases; the T cells produce daughter cells—T helper cells—that support innate immune cells in killing pathogens; and memory cells are formed. Nish et al. find that these responses are impaired in the mutant mice. To understand why, Nish et al. turn to T regulatory cells; these are adaptive immune cells that control the strength of the immune response. These experiments show that when T cells are ‘blind’ to IL-6, they are more sensitive to the action of T regulatory cells, and this disturbs the delicate balance between the stimulation and inhibition of the immune system. Nish et al. go on to show that IL-6 works together with another signaling molecule, Interleukin 1, to regulate how the T cells respond. The work helps to explain how the adaptive immune system mounts an immune response against pathogens but not against the host's own tissues.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.015
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.016
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.018
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.019
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.020
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.021
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.022
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.023
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.024
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.01949.025
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3