Researchers here describe an interesting approach to redirecting the immune system to destroy unwanted cells. The membranes of dead cells are distinctively marked and immune cells contain machinery to recognize those marks. This is an important part of the way in which immune cells are directed to engulf and destroy dead cells and cell debris, helping to keep tissue functional. If immune cells are equipped instead with an altered, engineered sensor mechanism, then in principle their well-established behavior of engulfing and destroying dead cells could be repurposed to attack any specific target live cell population. This has applications to many conditions of aging, as researchers have identified many errant, malfunctioning cell populations that contribute to age-related disease and dysfunction. Efficient and safe ways to remove these cells will provide the basis fo…
Repurposing the Normal Clearance of Dead Cells to Target Unwanted Live Cells
Researchers here describe an interesting approach to redirecting the immune system to destroy unwanted cells. The membranes of dead cells are distinctively marked and immune cells contain machinery to recognize those marks. This is an important part of the way in which immune cells are directed to engulf and destroy dead cells and cell debris, helping to keep tissue functional. If immune cells are equipped instead with an altered, engineered sensor mechanism, then in principle their well-established behavior of engulfing and destroying dead cells could be repurposed to attack any specific target live cell population. This has applications to many conditions of aging, as researchers have identified many errant, malfunctioning cell populations that contribute to age-related disease and dysfunction. Efficient and safe ways to remove these cells will provide the basis fo…