Science: challenge the routine! Part of the delta T cells bind to the underside of MHC like molecules to identify harmful cells

December 28, 2019 / Biovalley BIOON / - -- T cells are key components of our immune system and play a key role in protecting us from harmful pathogens such as viruses and bacteria and cancer The more we know about how they recognize, act on, or even kill infected cells or cancer cells, the closer we can be to developing drugs and treatments for a variety of diseases In a new study, researchers from Monash University, Australian Research Council Center for advanced molecular imaging excellence and the Doherty Institute at the University of Melbourne redefined our understanding of T-cell recognition over the past 20 years The related research results were recently published in the journal Science, and the title of the paper is "a class of γ δ T cell receivers recognize the understanding of the anti retaining mobile MR1" Scanning electron micrograph of human T cells from the immune system of healthy donors The picture is from NIAID In order to interact with other cells in the body, T cells rely on specialized receptors called T cell receptors that recognize viral or bacterial fragments that bind to specific molecules called major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) or MHC like molecules In the past 20 years, it has been widely accepted that T cell receptors bind to MHC and MHC like molecules for recognition In this new study, the researchers describe a cell population in a little-known group of T cells called delta T cells that recognize an MHC like molecule called MR1 By using high-intensity x-ray beams at the Australian synchrotron, they obtained detailed three-dimensional images of the interaction between the γ δ T cell receptor and MR1, and obtained interesting results: the γ δ T cell receptor binds under the MHC like molecule for recognition This highly unusual recognition mechanism reshapes our understanding of how T cell receptors interact with their target molecules and represents a major development in the field of T cell biology "We think of it as a sign of attachment to a cell," said Dr J é r? Me le nours, co-author of the paper at the Institute of biomedical discovery at Monash University We always thought T cells would come over and read this sign from above We have determined that some T cells can approach and interact with it from below These are important details that can change our future research methods of T cell biology It's important because T cells are a key weapon in our immune system, and understanding how they target and act on other cells is crucial to using their power to develop immunotherapies for diseases such as infection and cancer " Dr Nicholas gherardin, CO lead author of the paper and at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, said, "our study shows that MR1 is a new molecular target for δ T cells These cells play a decisive role in the immune response to infection and cancer, but little is known about how they respond MR1 may signal the existence of virus or cancer cells and trigger these cells to initiate a protective immune response " (BIOON Com) reference: 1 J é r? Me le nours et al A class of γ δ T cell receivers recognize the understand of the anti retaining molecule MR1 Science, 2019, doi:10.1126/science.aav3900 2.Advanced imaging tips T cell target recognition on its head https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-12-advanced-imaging-cell-recognition.html