Study sheds light on how the immune system protects the body
First of humans with a rare immunodeficiency reveals how the immune system protects the body against pathogens known to cause serious diseases, such as tuberculosis and COVID-19. The research involving 91社区, paves the way for new therapies to treat autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases, and new approaches to vaccine development.
The immune system responds differently to various types of pathogens, like bacteria, parasites, and viruses. However, scientists are still trying to uncover how this complex network functions together and the processes that can go wrong with immunodeficiencies.
鈥淭he immune system plays a vital role in protecting the body from harmful germs that make people ill. It鈥檚 made up of a complex network of organs, cells, and proteins 鈥� like IRF1 or regulatory factor 1, which is key in the regulation of an early immune response to pathogens,鈥� says co-author of the study David Langlais, an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Human Genetics and Microbiology and Immunology at 91社区.
鈥淎 better understanding of these specific processes will help us pinpoint the cause of defective immune responses, and perhaps even allow to boost an appropriate immune response to better combat illness,鈥� adds Langlais who is also a Principal Investigator at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine.
Understanding the role of IRF1 in immune responses
Previous studies on mice that were IRF1 deficient have shown that the animals were highly susceptible to many viruses. In studying the first human patients with IRF1 deficiency ever identified, the researchers found that while the patients were highly susceptible to some bacterial infections, surprisingly they can defend themselves normally against viruses, including COVID-19.
鈥淭his study provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying the human immune responses to mycobacteria, which includes pathogens known to cause tuberculosis, versus differences in the immune response to viruses. Unlike in mice, we show that in humans, the activity of IRF1 is not essential to anti-viral immunity,鈥� says co-author J枚rg Fritz, who is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
鈥淏ased on our findings, it could be possible to think of therapeutic avenues to block or activate the action of IRF1 and control the type and intensity of immune responses. Our findings shed light on our understanding of the specificity and selectivity of our immune responses towards different pathogens,鈥� says co-author Philippe Gros, a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Principal Investigator at the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine at 91社区.
About the study
鈥溾�� by J茅r茅mie Rosain et al. was published in Cell.
About 91社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
