New study reveals the role of lung cells in lung immunity

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) discovered that the immune control of the lungs is accomplished by cells arranged in the air space, that is, epithelial cells, using a special immune-oriented molecule MHC-II
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This epithelial MHC-II is essential for locating and programming highly specialized immune cells called resident memory T (TRM) lymphocytes in the lungs

"Lung epithelial cells are usually expected to support respiratory function, and it is reported that mhc ii connects immune cells to immune cells.
Therefore, the discovery of lung epithelial cells mhc ii tells TRM cells where and what to do in the lungs is novel and unexpected," corresponding author Joseph Mizgerd explained that he is a professor of medicine, microbiology and biochemistry at BUSM
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By analyzing lung epithelial cells from humans and experimental models, the researchers learned that all different types of epithelial cells express MHC-II and increase its expression during infection
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The only known function of MHC-II is to educate immune cells called CD4+ T cells

"Our research shows that lung epithelial cells are similar to gatekeepers, and their task is to appropriately indicate the location of CD4 TRM cell sentinels and their ability to fight future infections
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Considering that TRM cells are not only protective in pneumonia, they are also fighting Cancer and asthma play a key role, and our findings have greater significance in understanding, preventing and treating a variety of lung diseases," said Dr.

In addition to showing that lung epithelial cells use the immune system in the lungs of MHC-II tissue, the study also revealed two unexpected findings derived from the main findings
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First, other immune-oriented molecules rely on MHC-II to reach the cell surface, where they can interact with other cells to complete immune commands

The researchers imagine that interventions (prevention and treatment) can be designed to use the ability of lung epithelial cells to regulate lung immunity
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"In this way, we will be able to use the patient's own lung epithelial cells during pneumonia and/or cancer to turn on the protective effects of TRM cells, while being able to turn off their pathological effects during asthma when necessary," Shenoy said

These findings were published in the online edition of the journal Nature Communications

Funding for this research was provided by the National Institutes of Health Funds including HL147397 EIA, HL142199 Taxi, HL147461 FTK, HL136725 MRJ, GM120060 HL111449 LJQ, AI115053, HL135756, HL137081 JPMorgan Chase and T32 HL007035 support students in addition to support by the German Research Foundation (DFG) Clinical Research Group KFO309 TP08, Excellence Cluster Heart and Lung Institute (CPI) and German Lung Research Center (DLZ) for tuberculosis

Journal Reference :

1. Anukul T.