The human immune system is a puzzle of different cells and proteins working together to protect the body from disease. Scientists have recently found a surprising link between two components that were previously assumed to be unrelated.A team of researchers at the HZI Department of Molecular Immunology observed this unexpected relationship when testing rats that had poor acquired immunity (immunity related to vaccinations.) A main part of acquired immunity is B-cells, which make antibodies. Dendritic cells (DCs), on the other hand, are part of the innate immune system (initial strength regardless of vaccination). The DC's main task is to break apart pathogens into small pieces called antigens; the cell then displays the antigens, allowing other cells to see what antibodies to make. In the same immunodeficient rats, it was noticed that not only the acquired immunity was not working well, the DCs were not functioning correctly. Instead of binding with antibody receptors, certain genes were changed , affecting communication between B-cells and DCs. Before this series of experiments, it was assumed that the only role of antibodies was to neutralize viruses and label bacteria for disposal.Now scientists know that antibodies are key in the communications between B-cells and DC's.
Several themes of science are discussed in this article:
~ Science is collaborative. Freiburg University and the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics along with at team from HZI worked together to discover this about cells.
~ Science is based on evidence. The researchers did many trials before coming to their conclusion,
Article link:
Picture of B-Cell link: http://www.biooncology.com/images/therapeutic-targets/b-cell-lg.jpg
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