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A groundbreaking study conducted jointly by the University College London (UCL) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute has shed light on a previously undisclosed relationship between the immune system and respiratory development in early stages, sparking hope for combatting childhood respiratory diseases.
Respiratory conditions globally contribute to nearly 20% of deaths among children under the age of five, emphasizing the urgency to understand and address these ailments more effectively.
Published in Science Immunology, the study showcased the pivotal role played by communication between immune cells and the airway lining cells in ensuring healthy lung development. This discovery, resulting in the creation of an immune cell atlas for developing lungs, raises the prospect of leveraging immune cell insights to tackle various respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Dr. Jo Barnes from UCL Division of Medicine highlighted the symbiotic relationship between immune cells and developing fetal lungs. Some immune cells utilize the lungs as a developmental niche, priming for exposure to pathogens at birth, while others actively contribute to shaping lung tissue.
This revelation has profound implications beyond lung health, hinting at potential regenerative therapies for various human organs, remarked Dr. Barnes.
The study uncovered the presence of immune cells in human lungs as early as five weeks into development. By investigating immune cells in early-stage human lungs (from 5 to 22 weeks), the research utilized diverse techniques, including single-cell sequencing and lung cell culture experiments, to scrutinize the potential influence of immune cells on lung cell development.
The team’s findings unveiled the active participation of immune cells in steering the growth of human lung tissue during development. Notably, an infiltration sequence of innate immune cells followed by adaptive immune cells was observed.
This redefines the comprehension of immune-epithelial interactions vital for fetal lung maturation and suggests that disturbances in early immune activity might manifest as pediatric lung diseases.
The study represents a significant leap in understanding the intricate connection between immune cells and developing lungs, offering a potential avenue for early intervention strategies against childhood respiratory ailments.
