Immune cells can learn from experience

James Cook University (JCU) has contributed to an international research project which found that immune cells have the ability to learn, remember and apply their knowledge to future challenges.

Published in the journal Immunity, the study focused on T-helper (Th) cells, a type of T cell that helps other immune cells by releasing cytokines - messenger substances that regulate our immune responses. JCU researcher Dr Andreas Kupz explained, “We already knew that T cells could produce different quantities of a messenger substance, but until now it was assumed this was randomly determined.”

Through single-cell analyses and mathematical modelling, the researchers found that “when a T-helper cell is activated by an infection, it ‘learns’ which cytokine it needs to produce, and in what quantity”, said Dr Kupz. Furthermore, if the infection is conquered, some of the T-helper cells are able to retain the information through the amount of a transcription factor present in the nucleus of the cells. This is called “quantitative cytokine memory”, according to the researchers, and results in the cells’ transformation into long-lived memory T cells.

“When they later face a new infection, these memory T cells are activated and they release that predetermined quantity of cytokine,” explained Dr Kupz. He added that further understanding of T-helper cells, and their management of cytokines, “opens the door to exciting possibilities”.

“For example we might, in the future, be able to strengthen a specific immune reaction. Or, we could perhaps reduce the misdirected immune responses that cause inflammation.”

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