Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in balancing the immune system, ensuring it is aggressive enough to fight infections and cancer while preventing attacks on healthy cells. However, the exact mechanisms through which Tregs interact with other immune cells during disease and treatment have remained unclear.
Researchers from Osaka University have now developed a groundbreaking technique called single-cell Suppressor Profile of Tregs (scSPOT), which allows them to analyze Tregs’ effects on all immune cells simultaneously. This innovation surpasses previous methods that could only examine interactions between one or two cell types at a time.
According to lead researcher Jonas Nørskov Søndergaard, the study, published in Nature Communications, reveals that Tregs most strongly suppress CD8-EM T cells, a key subset in fighting infections and cancer. The findings highlight the significant role of Tregs in both health and disease.
The research also shows that cancer drugs like ipilimumab and tazemetostat target Tregs differently, while scSPOT identified specific Tregs associated with severe COVID-19 infections. Senior author James Wing emphasized that this method could accelerate the development of better treatments, particularly by identifying high-risk patients earlier in viral outbreaks.
By providing new insights into immune regulation and drug mechanisms, scSPOT has the potential to drive advancements in immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
Article written by imMedico
12/02/2025
Source:
immedico