Health & Medicine
Immune Cells Response to Vitamin B May Result in TB Cure
Brooke Miller
First Posted: Oct 11, 2012 05:25 AM EDT
A new finding on the immune system and its response will help in improved treatments and in the development of vaccine for tuberculosis.
An Australian team study has revealed that the highly abundant mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) recognize products of vitamin B synthesis from bacteria and yeast in an early step to activating the immune system.
The study that was led by Dr Lars Kjer-Nielsen from the University of Melbourne throws light on how by-products of bacterial vitamin synthesis could be captured by the immune receptor MR1, thus, fine-tuning the activity of MAIT cells. It also includes Folic acid or vitamin B9 and Riboflavin or vitamin B2.
"Humans are unable to make vitamin B and obtain it mostly from diet. Because bacteria can synthesise vitamin B, our immune system uses this as a point of difference to recognise infection," he said.
"Given the relative abundance of the MAIT cells lining mucosal and other surfaces, such as the intestine, the mouth, lungs, it is quite probable that they play a protective role in many infections from thrush to tuberculosis.
"This is a significant discovery that unravels the long sought target of MAIT cells and their role in immunity to infection."
According to Professor James McCluskey of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne, the discovery opened opportunities for vaccine development and other potential therapeutics. This will unlock the mystery of what drives a key component of our immune system, he said.
Whereas the Monash University's Professor Jamie Rossjohn believes the findings had major implications for understanding the relationship between gut bacteria and the immune system.
"Some vitamin by-products appear to drive immunity while others dampen it," Rossjohn said.
After this the researchers plan to explore whether MAIT cells might also be involved in intestinal or mucosal disorders.
"This discovery now cracks open a new field in immunology and we can expect many research groups to focus their attention on this system," Rossjohn said.
The details of this study were published in the journal Nature.
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First Posted: Oct 11, 2012 05:25 AM EDT
A new finding on the immune system and its response will help in improved treatments and in the development of vaccine for tuberculosis.
An Australian team study has revealed that the highly abundant mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) recognize products of vitamin B synthesis from bacteria and yeast in an early step to activating the immune system.
The study that was led by Dr Lars Kjer-Nielsen from the University of Melbourne throws light on how by-products of bacterial vitamin synthesis could be captured by the immune receptor MR1, thus, fine-tuning the activity of MAIT cells. It also includes Folic acid or vitamin B9 and Riboflavin or vitamin B2. "Humans are unable to make vitamin B and obtain it mostly from diet. Because bacteria can synthesise vitamin B, our immune system uses this as a point of difference to recognise infection," he said. "Given the relative abundance of the MAIT cells lining mucosal and other surfaces, such as the intestine, the mouth, lungs, it is quite probable that they play a protective role in many infections from thrush to tuberculosis. "This is a significant discovery that unravels the long sought target of MAIT cells and their role in immunity to infection." According to Professor James McCluskey of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne, the discovery opened opportunities for vaccine development and other potential therapeutics. This will unlock the mystery of what drives a key component of our immune system, he said. Whereas the Monash University's Professor Jamie Rossjohn believes the findings had major implications for understanding the relationship between gut bacteria and the immune system. "Some vitamin by-products appear to drive immunity while others dampen it," Rossjohn said. After this the researchers plan to explore whether MAIT cells might also be involved in intestinal or mucosal disorders. "This discovery now cracks open a new field in immunology and we can expect many research groups to focus their attention on this system," Rossjohn said. The details of this study were published in the journal Nature.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone