Maturation instead of cell death: Defective signaling pathways disrupt immune cell development

In the case of an autoimmune disease, the immune system not only attacks pathogens, but also the body's own cells. Researchers at the University of Freiburg—Medical Center have now been able to show that defective signaling pathways in the body play a decisive role in the development of immune cells, a discovery that opens up new therapeutic approaches for autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS).

The study was published on 12 January 2024 in the journal Science Immunology.

"The findings show how profound the effects that signaling pathway disorders have on the way our immune system functions, which helps us to better understand the mechanisms of immune cell development and function," says Prof. Dr. Marta Rizzi, Research Group Leader at the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University of Freiburg–Medical Center and the Medical University of Vienna.

Important insights into immune cell development

The FAS signaling pathway plays an important role in the regulation of programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. However, activation of the signaling pathway also influences non-lethal processes such as the maturation of B cells in the human immune system.

The study indicates that disruptions in this signaling pathway can lead to problems in the development and function of B cells. "The next step for us will be to look for ways in which these findings can help us treat patients," says Rizzi, who is also a member of the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS–Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies at the University of Freiburg.