New 'molecular tool' to trigger targeted immune responses

A team from the University of Oklahoma has published a study in the journal Advanced Science that proposes a new way to trigger an adaptive immune response

The research was led by Handan Acar, Ph.

How cell death provokes an immune response

It may sound violent, but cell death is an important biological process

"Injury to the cell membrane can be accidental, due to physical forces, such as cuts or burns, or due to viral or bacterial programming, and this damage can lead to the release of DAMPs," Acar said

There are two types of immune responses, innate and adaptive

Acar's team wanted to know how to stress the cells enough to release damage signals that trigger a dialogue between the innate and adaptive immune responses, teaching the immune cells to behave similarly to what happens during vaccination

Developing a mechanical tool to trigger an immune response

The research team applied the methodological framework proposed in the previous study to create molecules that can integrate into cells, aggregate and put enough pressure on their membranes to release signals that recruit immune cells to their location

By making a molecule that can trigger immunogenic cell death and control a small subset of pathogens, they're stimulating a process that teaches the immune system how to respond to a specific bacteria or pathogen, which the researchers believe has therapeutic applications.

When testing the process with a protein from the flu virus, the researchers found a 15-fold increase in protective and therapeutic antibodies, which can tag infected cells to clear immune cells, 75 days after one injection and one booster injection

"As engineers, we give doctors and clinical scientists the tools to create treatments, improve diagnosis or improve patient care," Acar said.

Now, the research team is seeking to better understand the application of this process in the fight against melanoma, pancreatic and breast cancer cells, hoping that the simulated responses suggest that there may be multiple ways their approach could lead to positive results

Peptide Aggregation Induced Immunogenic Rupture (PAIIR)