How immune cells embedded in tissues prevent cancer?

According to a new study, CD8 T cells which are activated in response to infections and tumours and are able to recall the names of harmful invaders, are receiving more attention from researchers studying how the human immune system reacts to pathogens and cancers. A new study led by biologists at the University of California San Diego offers fresh insights into these specialized cells, known as CD8 tissue-resident memory T cells. The researchers developed a new atlas that describes tissue-resident memory T cells in diverse tissue settings, boosting the prospects of the development of immune defence strategies to enhance immunity at sites vulnerable to infection. "By identifying the unique transcriptional pathways and regulators of tissue-resident memory T cells, we can discover novel targets that inform the strategic design of vaccines to provide the greatest protection among 'first responders' in the tissues where pathogens and tumours begin their expansion," said Goldrath, who holds the Tata Chancellor's Endowed Professorship in the Department of Molecular Biology. Finally, the scientists raise the possibility that future extensions of this research could come in the form of customized engineered therapies: ".these findings collectively raise the possibility of 'programming' tissue-tailored immune responses, where immune cells that promote or regulate inflammation could be transcriptionally engineered for trafficking to, retention in and function within a particular tissue."