April 23, 2024

Scientists Discover a Massacre: “Assassin” Cells Murder Innocent Cells

As formerly discussed, the division of a stem cell into 2 cells– a stem cell and a cell understood as a progenitor– starts the differentiation process of sperms in male fruit flies. The more we discover about mechanisms of cell death, the better we can harness these processes to get rid of malignant cells,” Professor Toledano concluded.

It is popular that phagocytic cells swallow and dissolve dead cells, but we show for the first time that they also kill newly-created regular cells. By continuously supplying new cells to replace the old ones, these powerful stem cells make it possible for tissue replenishment. Each stem cell in this procedure splits into 2 cells, one of which is maintained for use in the future and the other of which establishes to take the place of the lost cell in the tissue.

Researchers found that a fourth of the progenitor cells in the testis are “murdered” by phagocytes, despite the reality that these cells are not doing anything “incorrect.”.
University of Haifa research has determined killer cells.
A procedure that includes the “murder” of living, newly-generated cells has actually been found for the very first time in current research carried out at the University of Haifa. The research, which was explained in the esteemed journal Science Advances, found that throughout the cellular differentiation process in fruit flies, phagocytic cells take in and damage healthy living cells.
It is widely known that phagocytic cells swallow and dissolve dead cells, but we reveal for the very first time that they also kill newly-created typical cells. The more we understand the systems of cell death, the much better we comprehend how to cope with numerous diseases, especially cancer”, described Professor Hilla Toledano, head of the Department of Human Biology at the University of Haifa and author of the study.
The origin of several bodily tissues, consisting of skin, hair, stomach, and testicles, may be traced back to stem cells. By continuously supplying brand-new cells to change the old ones, these powerful stem cells allow tissue replenishment. Each stem cell in this procedure splits into two cells, one of which is retained for usage in the future and the other of which develops to fill in the lost cell in the tissue.

In the current investigation, Professor Toledano, Professor Estee Kurant, and a group of researchers from the University of Haifa looked at the sex cells of fruit flies. Since many molecular procedures in fruit flies and people are similar, they can be utilized as an effective design in this circumstance.
Fruit fly research studies work due to the capacity to keep track of processes in live tissues and the simplicity of genetic change, which permits the specific recognition of cellular procedures. 6 Nobel Prizes have been provided throughout the years to researchers who discovered biological systems in fruit flies that are saved in people.
As previously pointed out, the department of a stem cell into 2 cells– a stem cell and a cell called a progenitor– begins the distinction process of sperms in male fruit flies. This procedure continues until practical sperms are formed. The scientists already understood that one-fourth of these progenitor cells die and do not turn into sperms from past research studies. The function of the present research study was to much better understand what occurs to these cells.
The body has a well-established and essential system called cell death. Under normal circumstances, cells have the capability to “devote suicide” when a severe mutation has taken place or after they have actually served their purpose. Phagocytes come to “consume” dying cells, successfully taking their contents away and dissolving them. It is understood that phagocytes sometimes “consume” immune system cells that have actually finished their job of protecting the body versus intruders.
In the existing study, the researchers discovered that the phagocytes “murder” a quarter of the progenitor cells in the testis although these cells are doing absolutely nothing “wrong” and are merely in the procedure of distinction; they are still new cells and they are not irregular in all regard.
In the very first stage, the researchers prevented the eating capabilities of the phagocytes and discovered no dead cells in the tissue. In other words, the phagocytes are accountable for the death of the progenitor cells.
In the 2nd phase, the scientists utilized real-time imaging to monitor live tissue and discovered that the progenitor cells are swallowed alive by the phagocyte, and only then the death process is initiated. “We found for the very first time a process involving the murder of completely typical cells. We still do not know why this occurs. Maybe this process aims to provide nutrients to keep a practical population of stem cells throughout the life time of the organism” Professor Toledano recommended.
In addition to the understanding of a brand-new mechanism, this study can add to our abilities to establish drugs and suggests to manage cell death, and particularly, of course, for dealing with cancer. “Tumors are characterized by continuous growth and the disruption of the process of natural cell death. We will be able to control the growth of the growth if we manage to present phagocytes in this procedure that are capable of eliminating the live cancer cells. The more we discover mechanisms of cell death, the better we can harness these procedures to get rid of malignant cells,” Professor Toledano concluded.
Reference: “The phagocytic cyst cells in Drosophila testis get rid of bacterium cell progenitors through phagoptosis” by Maayan Zohar-Fux, Aya Ben-Hamo-Arad, Tal Arad, Marina Volin, Boris Shklyar, Ketty Hakim-Mishnaevski, Lilach Porat-Kuperstein, Estee Kurant and Hila Toledano, 17 June 2022, Science Advances.DOI: 10.1126/ sciadv.abm4937.