The Scripps Research Institute Study Finds T Cell Multiplication Unexpectedly Delayed After Infection; Lag May Provide Protection Against Autoimmune Reaction

LA JOLLA, Calif., April 10 (AScribe Newswire) -- In a surprising outcome that overturns the conventional wisdom on the body's immune response to infection, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have shown that T cells do not begin proliferation until up to three days after infection. Until now, it was generally believed that memory T cells, lymphocytes that recognize pathogens from previous infections, begin cell division at a far earlier point than naive T cells, fresh cells that respond to new infections. The new findings suggest that the delay may be an evolutionary safeguard against the possible risk of an autoimmune response from an explosive proliferation of T cells. The study was published in the April 10, 2008 edition of the online journal Public Library of Science Pathogens (PLoS Pathogens).