The distinct roles of these immune cells opens the possibility of new treatments for human inflammatory diseases
The distinct roles of these immune cells opens the possibility of new treatments for human inflammatory diseases
Singapore – Researchers from A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) have discovered two distinct types of macrophages that exist within the connective and supportive tissues between the cells in our bodies, also known as interstitial tissues. Macrophages are immune cells that support tissue function and help the body to get rid of disease-causing pathogens or dead cells, by consuming and destroying them.
The research team, led by Dr Florent Ginhoux, discovered that the two types of macrophages have distinct roles in how the body regulates immune responses. Macrophages in interstitial tissues have not been as extensively studied or clearly defined as those found within other organs, which inspired the research team to look more closely at their specific functions. The results of this study were published in the peer-reviewed journal Science in March 2019.
Two distinct types of interstitial macrophages
One macrophage was found to be closely associated with nerves, while the other was found to be linked to blood vessels of the body’s circulatory system.
Dr Ginhoux and his team then sought to determine the function of the macrophages that were linked to the circulatory system. To do so, they introduced fibrosis to two sets of experimental models – one set having been depleted of the macrophages, while the other a control group. Fibrosis within an organ is the result of the body’s immune response to injury or disease, and typically results in the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue.
The team found that in the depleted model, fibrosis occurred at a rate which was much higher and more aggressive than in the control model. The depleted model also experienced vascular leakage, something which was not observed in the control model. The results indicate that the macrophages likely have specific functions related to the regulation of how aggressively the body responds to injury or disease.
Next steps
This discovery sheds new light on how complex the body’s immune system is. It also helps researchers better understand the roles of interstitial macrophages and how they in turn help to support the body’s core functions.
“The results of this study helped us to better understand interstitial macrophages. The discovery of two separate types of macrophages and how they support specific functions also brings to light the complexity of the body’s immune system,” said Dr Florent Ginhoux, Senior Principal Investigator at A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network. “Our next steps would be to apply this knowledge to human inflammatory diseases and test if modulating differently these two separate types of macrophages could lead to new treatments and cures,” he added.
Link to online version:
http://science.sciencemag.org/
Notes to Editor:
The research findings described in this media release can be found in the Science paper titled “Two distinct interstitial macrophage populations coexist across tissues in unique subtissular niches”.
Svetoslav Chakarov1, Hwee Ying Lim2, Leonard Tan1, Sheau Yng Lim2, Peter
See1, Josephine Lum1, Xiao-Meng Zhang1, Shihui Foo1, Satoshi Nakamizo1, Kaibo Duan1, Wan Ting Kong1, Rebecca Gentek3, Akhila Balachander1, Daniel Carbajo1, Camille Bleriot1, Benoit Malleret1,2, John Kit Chung Tam4, Sonia Baig5, Muhammad Shabeer5, Sue-Anne Ee Shiow Toh5, Andreas Schlitzer6, Anis Larbi1, Thomas Marichal7, Bernard Malissen3,8, Jinmiao Chen1, Michael Poidinger1, Kenji Kabashima1,9, Marc Bajenoff3, Lai Guan Ng1, Veronique Angeli2 and Florent Ginhoux1,*
1. Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 3, Singapore 138648, Singapore
2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
3. Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS, 13288 Marseille, France
4. Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
5. Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore
6. Myeloid Cell Biology, Life & Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
7. Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, GIGA Research, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
8. Centre d’Immunophénomique, Aix Marseille Université, INSERM, CNRS UMR, 13288 Marseille, France
9. Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to Dr Florent Ginhoux (Florent_Ginhoux@immunol.a-
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