Researchers from EARA member Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal, have found key details about how our immune system develops.
Using mice, the team identified a group of cells essential to support the development of immune cells known as T lymphocytes, which can cause blood cell cancer when they do not develop properly.
Published in Cell Reports, the group showed that regulation by these support cells was crucial to proper development of the T lymphocyte population, as they adjust the speed of production, and replace older cells with younger healthy cells.
The team hopes to use this knowledge to find better ways to prevent these cancers, and achieve earlier diagnosis of the disease.