A subset of white blood cells present in the intestine could cause cancer, French researchers have discovered.
A type of white blood cell in it intestine could cause the development of canceraccording to a new french study. The researchers studied a group of immune cells calls TH17 lymphocyteswhich are present in the intestines, and published their findings in the journal ‘Nature Immunology’.
T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that directly attacks and kills infected cells, such as bacteria. TH17 lymphocytes contribute to intestinal stabilitytissue repair and bacterial protection.
“In it intestinethey have a protective paperas they help defend against certain bacteria that live in the intestine or during an infection. They also help maintain healthy intestinal tissue,” Julien Marie, immunology expert and author of the study, told Euronews Health.
Los TH17 lymphocytes they have also been associated con inflammatory diseaseslike the multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease. The scientists used single-cell RNA sequencing to study the cell population. “The cells are analyzed one by one and not in groups, so we can have the genetic program of each cell,” Marie explained.
The molecule acts as a “brake” for cancer cells
The team discovered eight subsets different from cells and discovered that one of them couldin certain cases, cause cancer.
The researchers observed a “strong correlation“between people with a high presence of this cell population and patients who develop bowel cancer. They also discovered that a molecule called TGF beta could inhibit cells from becoming cancerous.
“It is Tumor-initiating cells are derived from normal cells in the body that we all have, normal lymphocytes,” Marie explained.
“Therefore, if there is no more of this molecule called TGF beta or if its levels decrease in the body, cells will generate cancer-initiating cells. So this is really the brakes that the TGF beta molecule puts on. “It really impedes the development of these tumor-initiating cells,” he said.
According to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), almost 30% of cancers they develop as result of chronic localized inflammation.
A discovery that could facilitate the improvement of cancer treatments
This discovery could help improve current treatments against cancer, such as immunotherapies that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Stimulate only the good cells what are they anticancer could help the immunotherapy sea more effective.
“From the clinical point of view of this work, we know that The earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the chance of complete remission of cancer and These cells are found at the beginning of cancer development. Therefore, the presence of these cells will alert doctors that you are at increased risk,” Marie said, which would allow these patients to be provided with more detailed follow-up.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Universidad Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and of the University of Montpellier.
