Transient blockade of interferon boosts memory T cells and enhances vaccine protection
This video shows a mouse lymph node full of stem cell-like memory T cells (TSCM), coloured yellow. These cells are important for long-term immune memory and their generation and maintenance are considered crucial for the lasting protection induced by certain vaccines. It has been reasoned, therefore, that boosting these cells alongside an immunisation could enhance a vaccine’s protective power. And now researchers have figured out how to do just that – by transiently inhibiting interferon-1 signalling upon delivery of a vaccine. Interferons are inflammatory cytokines produced early in infection or immediately following a vaccination and they promote the development of effector T cells [those executing the immune response]. Because these effector cells develop from TSCM cells, it’s thought that transiently blocking their development would enable the precursor TSCM cell numbers to expand. Sure enough, this trick improved vaccine-induced protection against a rodent virus in mice, suggesting it may work in humans too.
Written by
BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.