How does the new MIT therapy reboot the immune system?

The therapy uses messenger RNA to instruct liver cells to produce signaling proteins that mimic natural thymus signals, encouraging the regeneration of T-cells essential for immune defense.

What were the results of the MIT immune system therapy in mice?

In aging mice, the treatment significantly boosted immune responses, improved vaccine efficacy, and demonstrated potent anti-tumor effects, with nearly half of treated mice overcoming tumors.

What is the potential future application of this liver-based immune therapy?

This approach could be a generalizable strategy to combat age-related immune decline and may offer new avenues for treating a wide range of human diseases and conditions.

Home / Health / MIT Scientists Reboot Immune System with Liver

MIT Scientists Reboot Immune System with Liver

1 Feb

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Summary

New mRNA therapy uses the liver to produce vital T-cells.
Treatment showed promise in boosting immune response in mice.
Approach could offer a general method for treating age-related decline.

MIT Scientists Reboot Immune System with Liver

A groundbreaking study from MIT reveals a new method to rejuvenate aging immune systems. Researchers, led by neuroscientist Feng Zhang, engineered messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct liver cells to produce vital signaling proteins. These proteins mimic natural thymus signals, prompting the regeneration of T-cells, which are essential for immune defense but decline with age.

Experiments in older mice showed remarkable results. The mRNA treatment, delivered via lipid nanoparticles to the liver, significantly boosted immune responses in vaccination and cancer immunotherapy models. This approach successfully increased the quantity and activity of T-cells, leading to improved vaccine efficacy and potent anti-tumor effects, with nearly half of treated mice overcoming tumors.

While the treatment's benefits require ongoing injections to be sustained, the MIT team views this method as a promising, generalizable strategy. Repurposing the liver to produce therapeutic proteins could offer a new avenue for addressing a wide range of age-related health conditions and diseases, potentially improving health outcomes globally.