Wide Variety of T-Cells Leads to Optimal Survival and Activity of Those Cells

[Guest guest]

U of MN research shows how infection-fighting cells interact

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified key

insights into how different types of infection-fighting T-cells

survive and co-exist within the body's immune system.

T-cells, or lymphocytes, are the body's natural defense mechanism

against infection, directly attacking foreign bodies such as bacteria

and viruses. The body contains millions of different lymphocytes that

fight specific infectious microbes. Research published in the March

3, 2006 issue of Science Express suggests that having a wide variety

of each specific T-cell in fewer quantities leads to optimal survival

and activity of these infection-fighting cells. Competition within

each type of T-cell allows the body to maintain a diverse inventory

of natural infection fighters.

" Without this balance, a body's immune system will not have the

desired response when faced with infection, " said Marc ,

professor of microbiology at the University of Minnesota and co-

author of the study. " These findings could aid the development and

production of vaccines and lead to further research on how the body

fights specific infections, such as HIV. "

and his student, Hataye, from the joint M.D./Ph.D.

program at the University of Minnesota, developed a method to monitor

very small numbers of specific T-cells in mice. Using this system,

they found that the cells survived and activated at a significantly

higher rate in mice that contained the normal amount of these T-

cells, as opposed to those that were intravenously injected with

2,000 times the normal amount of that type of T-cell.

" It's a needle in the haystack problem. We used a magnet to find the

needle, " said Hataye. " The ability to monitor the lifespan and

survival of one specific cell type will be key to future research and

understanding how these cells interact. "