A confocal image of immune cells (green and red) migrating through the 3-D space (blue) within a living Drosophila embryo. Credit: Image courtesy of University of Bristol
This discovery may pave the way for new treatments for many human diseases. Dr Helen Weavers, from the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences said: “While this immune response is beneficial for human health, many human diseases (including atheroscelerosis, cancer and arthritis) are caused or aggravated by an overzealous immune response.
“Our study found that immune cells must first become ‘activated’ by eating a dying neighbouring cell before they are able to respond to wounds or infection. In this way, immune cells build a molecular memory of this meal, which shapes their inflammatory behaviour.”
The team used the fruit fly (Dro...
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