Scientists reveal how fever "armed" immune cells

, fever helps immune cells get stronger, and now scientists have new evidence to explain the phenomenon. Researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found in mice that fever alters the surface proteins of immune cells, allowing them to reach the infected site better. The paper was published January 16 in the journal Immunity.
"One of the benefits of fever is that it promotes the transfer of lymphocytes to the infected site, so that there are more immune cells in the infected area, eliminating pathogens," said Chen Jianfeng, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology who lead the study. When
, white blood cells attach to blood vessels and then transfer to infected tissue or lymph nodes. In this process, molecules called allicins are expressed on the surface of lymphocytes. An integrator is a cell adhesion molecule that controls the transport of lymphocytes during inflammation.
, the researchers found that fever increased the expression of the hot shock protein 90 (Hsp 90) in T lymphocytes. This protein binds to alpha4 integrator, which promotes lymphocytes to adhere to blood vessels and eventually accelerates migration to the infected location.
researchers found that heat-induced Hsp90 binds to the tail of the integrated prime and activates the integrative. In addition, an Hsp90 can bind to two integratants, resulting in the accumulation of integratants on the surface of lymphocytes, which activate the signaling path path that promotes lymphocyte migration.
addition, not only fever, but also other stress can induce the expression of Hsp90. If these pathways can be changed, the researchers say, they may affect the transport of immune cells in chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. (Source: Tang Feng, China Science Daily)