IMMUNOLOGY: Putting a stop to immune responses

IMMUNOLOGY: Putting a stop to immune responses

To clear an invading microbe from the body the immune system must become activated. However, once the microbe has been cleared it is important to shut down the immune response so that it does not cause damage to healthy tissue surrounding the site of infection. In some instances, suppression of the immune response occurs before the immune system has done its job. For example, many tumors contain cells known as MDSCs that suppress antitumor immune responses. A team of researchers led by Leo Koenderman, at the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands, has now identified in humans a new population of immune system-suppressing cells characterized by high levels of expression of the proteins CD11c, CD11b, and CD16 and low levels of expression of the protein CD62L. The cells were observed in humans during acute body-wide inflammation induced by injection of a bacteria-derived toxin or by severe injury. Further analysis identified the mechanisms by which these cells suppressed the immune system, providing potential targets for preventing unwanted immune system suppression.山东大学第二医院儿内科柳方娥

TITLE: A subset of neutrophils in human systemic inflammation inhibits T cell responses through Mac-1