Host Guards

Our cell membranes look “like a coastline with lots of coves and bays” says Enfu Hui, lead of a team of scientists who recently found a secret on the shores of this T cell (highlighted with fluorescent stains). A vital step in our immune response, T cells respond when presented with suspicious proteins called antigens found on the outside of pathogens like viruses, or cancers. A protein called B7 triggers another called CD28 on the T cells and they set off in pursuit of the pathogen. The team found that T cells can make their own supply of B7 and, using the folds and crevices on their membranes, bring it into contact with CD28. This 'self-activation' might help scientists design drugs to 'top up' T cells with B7 while on protective missions inside our bodies, or even intercept overzealous T cells, such as those found in auto-immune diseases.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from work by Yunlong Zhao and colleagues
• Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Immunity, May 2023