Immune cells have a 'sense of touch,' scientists discover
Scientists have long believed that tissue-resident memory T cells—which remain in tissues after an infection has cleared and respond rapidly if the threat returns—are shaped primarily by biochemical signals. A McGill University–led study has now uncovered a previously unknown ability of T cells that could change our understanding of how long-term immunity develops.
Scientists have discovered that immune cells, specifically T cells, possess a sense of touch. This groundbreaking finding, published in Nature Immunology, suggests that T cells can sense the stiffness of their surrounding tissues and use this information to determine whether they will become long-lived memory cells. This revelation challenges the long-held belief that tissue-resident memory T cells are primarily shaped by biochemical signals.
The research, led by McGill University, involved placing immune cells from humans and mice in collagen gels with varying stiffness, revealing that stiffer gels led to the development of tissue-resident memory cells. Lead author Dr. Judith Mandl noted that this discovery could revolutionize our understanding of immunity and potentially inform treatments for autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection, and cancer.
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