Credit score: Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.008
Some cancers and power inflammatory ailments are handled with immunotherapies. These stimulate the affected person’s immune system to acknowledge and destroy tumor cells. To enhance such therapies, researchers are searching for mechanisms concerned in triggering an immune response.
Now, researchers have found such a mechanism in an surprising place: they’ve discovered that the centromeres—the areas of chromosomes which might be notably necessary for cell division—are straight linked to the immune system. Primarily based on this, additional useful molecules will be developed. The analysis outcomes have been revealed within the journal Cell.
Viruses are useful instruments for analysis. The work was made doable by way of virus mutants produced by the staff led by Prof. Dr. Lars Dölken, Director of the Institute of Virology at Hannover Medical Faculty (MHH), to be used in analysis. The examine was carried out on the Institut Curie in Paris, France, by Professor Nicolas Manel (INSERM) and Dr. Xavier Lahaye (CNRS) in collaboration with the staff of Professor Daniele Fachinetti (CNRS).
The viruses are herpes simplex viruses kind 1 (HSV-1), which trigger chilly sores. Herpes viruses are notably fascinating as a result of they will even penetrate the cell nucleus. They’ll infect cells, hijack their capabilities, and set off robust immune responses.
“The research team led by Professor Manel has discovered that viruses that have penetrated the cell nucleus disrupt the stability of the centromeres, leading to selective DNA replication of these chromosome regions. This unusual DNA replication is recognized by the cell and triggers activation of the cell’s own immune system and thus a systemic antiviral response,” explains Professor Dölken, who can be a researcher within the RESIST Cluster of Excellence.
“The hope now is that identifying and deciphering the underlying mechanisms will lead to the development of new immunotherapies against viruses or cancer.”
Extra info:
Xavier Lahaye et al, Centromeric DNA amplification triggered by viral proteins prompts nuclear cGAS, Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.008
Journal info:
Cell
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Hannover Medical Faculty
Quotation:
Researchers set up direct hyperlink between centromeres and immunity for the primary time (2025, June 19)
retrieved 20 June 2025
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