Psoriasis: Th22 Cells as
Milestone of Immunological Research Photo: Wikipedia.
Heidrun Behrendt.
Photo: private
Neuherberg, November 20, 2009. Scientists of Helmholtz
Zentrum München and the Center of Allergy and Environment
(ZAUM) of Technische Universität München have discovered
a new type of immune cells - the Th22 cells - which can protect the
body against inflammation and aid in tissue repair. In the current
online issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Dr. Stefanie
Eyerich and Dr. Kilian Eyerich together with their colleagues from
Imperial College London and Istituto Dermopatico dellImmacolata in
Rome, present their groundbreaking discovery. It represents a
milestone on the way to developing new treatment methods for
inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and allergic reactions
and potentially also allergic respiratory diseases such as
asthma.
The newly discovered Th22 cells are a previously unknown subset
of T helper cells. T helper cells are white blood cells that help
activate other immune cells when the body is infected by viruses or
bacteria. At the same time they help the body to tolerate own
tissue and to prevent or curb inflammation.
The researchers of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Center of
Allergy and Environment (ZAUM) of Technische Universität
München, together with their colleagues from London and Rome,
discovered the Th22 cells while analyzing skin samples of patients
with psoriasis, atopic eczema and allergic contact dermatitis.
"During the histological examination we noticed T cells that were
primarily characterized by the signaling molecule interleukin-22
(IL-22)," explained Dr. Stefanie Eyerich, the lead author of the
study.
Th22 cells aid in tissue repair. At the same time they warn our
skin cells of impending environmental dangers and stimulate the
skin cells to protect themselves. In addition, they can help to
strengthen the barriers of the skin and possibly also of the lung
by stimulating cells to produce more collagen.
Dr. Carsten Schmidt-Weber of Imperial College London and
coordinator of the study said: We are seeing an increase in chronic
diseases like skin and respiratory diseases. Besides genetic
disposition, the causes are higher hygienic standards and modern
nutritional habits. Diseases like psoriasis can have a substantial
negative impact on a patients quality of life, and sufferers must
often follow long, drawn-out skin care treatment regimens to keep
their symptoms at bay.
We consider the discovery of the Th22 cells to be a milestone in
immunology, providing a new starting point for the future treatment
of chronic inflammatory diseases such as eczema, scleroderma,
asthma or COPD, explained Professor Heidrun Behrendt, director of
ZAUM and the Clinical Cooperation Group of Helmholtz Zentrum
München and TU München.
The Munich researchers and their colleagues are elucidating the
genesis of Th22 cells and investigating Th22-specific genes, which
shall contribute to the development of selective and effective
therapies for patients with chronic skin and respiratory diseases.
Like other T helper cells, Th22 cells belong to a part of the
immune system which can recognize damaging pathogens even after a
long time has passed. This means that each treatment targeting
these cells would have a potential long-term effect.
More Information
Publication: Eyerich S, Eyerich, K, Pennino, D, Carbone,
T, Nasorri, F, Pallotta, S, Cianfarani, F Odorisio T
Traidl-Hoffmann, C, Behrendt, H, 5 Durham, SR, Schmidt-Weber, C.B,
Cavani A: Th22 cells represent a distinct human T cell subset
involved in epidermal immunity and remodeling. J. Clin. Invest.
(doi:10.1172/JCI40202. online Publikation 17.11.2009 http://www.jci.org/articles/view/40202)
Helmholtz Zentrum München is the German Research Center
for Environmental Health. As leading center oriented toward
Environmental Health, it focuses on chronic and complex diseases
which develop from the interaction of environmental factors and
individual genetic disposition. Helmholtz Zentrum München has
around 1680 staff members. The head office of the center is located
in Neuherberg to the north of Munich on a 50-hectare research
campus. Helmholtz Zentrum München belongs to the Helmholtz
Association, Germanys largest research organization, a community of
16 scientific-technical and medical-biological research centers
with a total of 26,500 staff members.
Further information: http://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de
Editor: Sven Winkler, Helmholtz Zentrum München German
Research Center for Environmental Health
Ingolstädter Landstr. 1
85764 Neuherberg
Germany
Phone:+49(0)89-3187-3946, Fax: +49(0)89-3187-3324
E-Mail: presse@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Internet: www.helmholtz-muenchen.de
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