Centromeres and Immunity: Revolutionary Discovery in Cancer Research!

Centromeres and Immunity: Revolutionary Discovery in Cancer Research!

Researchers at Hannover Medical School (MHH) have made a groundbreaking discovery that shows a direct connection between centromeres and immunity. The study, led by Prof. Dr. Lars Dölken and published in the journal “Cell”, could have far-reaching implications for the development of new immunotherapies against cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of the research is to identify mechanisms that trigger an immune response in order to improve existing therapies.

Immunotherapies are becoming increasingly important as they stimulate the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. Virus mutants, particularly herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), were used in this study. These viruses, capable of penetrating the cell nucleus, generate strong immune responses that could benefit the subjects. The research was carried out in collaboration with Professor Nicolas Manel and Dr. Xavier Lahaye at the Institut Curie in Paris and Professor Daniele Fachinetti.

Mechanisms of immune defense

One of the central findings of the study is that invading viruses disrupt the stability of the centromeres. This leads to selective DNA replication, which is recognized by the cell. This reaction activates the cell's own immune system, resulting in a systemic antiviral response. Identification of such mechanisms could form the basis for the development of more effective immunotherapies against viruses or cancer.

The research complied with all relevant ethical regulations using FFPE liver samples from patients with confirmed HSV-1, HBV or HCV-induced hepatitis. These samples were provided by the Erasmus MC BioBank using the institutional opt-out system. However, anonymous information about the gender of the study participants was not available in this context.

Technical approaches and analyses

For the study, the scientists used cell cultures and cell lines obtained from ATCC and Horizon. The use of different cell lines, such as HEK 293T and HFF-1, enabled a comprehensive analysis of the immune response. Techniques such as Western blotting, qRT-PCR and the use of CRISPR for gene editing have been used to study the response to the viral infections in more depth.

Statistical analyzes to determine the significance of the results were performed using an unpaired Student’s t test. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered an indicator of statistical significance of the results, supporting the robustness of the study.

Immunology is not only a key discipline of medical research, but also one of the central pillars of modern medicine. The body's defense mechanisms against infections are often crucial to human health. The body is constantly exposed to microorganisms, many of which are pathogenic, while most people rarely get sick. The discovery of the connection between centromeres and immunity could help further deepen the understanding of fundamental immune mechanisms, which is of great importance for the development of long-term therapies.

A deeper understanding of the immune pathways involved in the response to viral infections is crucial. The findings from this research are consistent with developments in immunology and could revolutionize future therapies, particularly in the treatment of viral infections and malignancies.