By: Tanvi Reddy
T-cells are much like covert spies, who watch, hide, and assess the human bloodstream for abnormalities like a spy does threats. Once a threat is detected, the cells then work towards defeating the threat. However, because your T-cells work so hard they become tired after their relentless fight, leading them to lose the battle to said threat, cancer.
T-cells are a type of white blood cell and are a key part of your immune system, their main function is to identify and destroy potentially harmful invaders or parts of cells. T-cells mainly deal with cancerous cells; cells that develop without the signal to grow which causes abnormal cell growth as defined by the National Cancer Institute. These cells are often the reason why cancer and cancerous tumors often appear.
The existence of T-cells may bring the doubt of why cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide (World Health Organization : Cancer). However, oftentimes the fight with cancer is relentless and draining, literally! Certain types of cancers act as silent thieves who use these small, straw-like structures called nanotubes to steal the mitochondria of T-cells. The mitochondria are the parts of the cell that create energy for the cell processes. They do this through the generation of energy molecules called Adenosine Tri-Phosphate or ATP, which are later used for the spy and attack activities of the t-cells. The burglary of this important organelle, hinders t-cells ability to do their job as the creation of energy for their usage is depleted. In addition, when cancer cells steal the t-cells’ mitochondria they become turbo-charged cancer cells that divide and grow even faster. Along with accelerated cancer cells and slowed down immune-system cells, the body’s chance of fighting the cancer is greatly decreased, creating a dilemma.
In light of this problem, Dr. Luca Gattinoni and his team have searched for a way to boost T-cell performance in order to help battle cancer more effectively, by allowing for the t-cells to sustain their energy levels in their battle against cancer. In their search they found a way to transfer or insert new, healthy mitochondria from donor cells into T-cells. This process is much like swapping the batteries your sibling takes out of your computer mouse. In order to achieve this result, bone marrow stromal cells ( a type of stem cell that can become certain skeletal tissue such as bone, cartilage, and fat found in your bone marrow) are used to form nanotubular, or small tube-like, structures that deliver the new mitochondria directly into the T-cells. By doing this, we not only replace the exhausted or dysfunctional mitochondria but we end up creating these supercharged T-cells that are like mini-super soldiers. With this modification the T-cell is way more effective and efficient with a significant increase in its energy production. With this new supercharged form, the T-cells have a lesser chance of becoming exhausted and are able to fight the cancer for a longer period of time.
Although this method has only been tested on animals and within a lab, meaning there are no strict guarantees, this new innovation can lead to ripples of profound change within the world of immunotherapies, or ways in which scientists can boost the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It allows for our amazing high-functioning body to keep functioning even when the enemy, cancer, is actively attacking our defenses. This research arms us with an advantage to fight the terrors of cancer and prevent it from taking over lives. It allows for undercover spy t-cells to take action, and gives them ample reinforcements in case of injury. It also represents a significant step towards the cure for certain cancers that would not involve harmful or over exertive treatments, like chemotherapy. So although there is no guarantee of a cure, this breakthrough has opened up many new doors and paths that could one day lead to the absolving of cancer.
T-cells are undoubtedly an important part of the human immune system, and the possibility that we could strengthen them and create a more natural and safer alternative to treating cancer is truly groundbreaking. Additionally, as always research is a work-in-progress and is constantly undergoing changes, with the hard-work of scientists all over the world, T-cell therapies and treatments could change the future of the treatment of cancer. Even if a majority of us cannot contribute to these discoveries, the idea that we can reinforce our own minisolders against a global villain like cancer is truly awe inspiring. To learn more about the research and innovation made, make sure to follow @themedicalmessenger_ and visit sites like Cancer Research Institute, National Cancer Institute: What is Cancer? , National Cancer Institute : Molecular Burglary: Cancer Cells Hijack Energy from Immune Cells, and the World Health Organization.
