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Researchers discover a new method for activating human immune cells
Immune cells protect and heal the human body. In medicine, they are specifically activated through biochemical reactions to treat certain diseases. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, ETH Zurich, Humboldt University of Berlin, Charité Berlin, and Inselspital Bern have now discovered that immune cells also respond to the surface structure of materials—without chemistry. This finding opens up new possibilities for effective cancer and immunotherapies as well as implantology. The study was recently published in the journal ACS Nano.
T cells are important defense cells of the human immune system. They travel through the body, constantly scanning their environment like tiny sensors. On their surface, they have tiny protrusions with receptors - called microvilli - that allow them to identify harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, foreign substances, or even altered cells of the body's own tissues. Upon contact, the cells become activated and trigger an immune response. Medical professionals also use this principle to treat certain diseases, such as in cancer therapy.
Cells connect with tiny pores
Until now, it was assumed that T cells are activated only through biochemical signals. The German-Swiss research team has now shown that T cells can also respond to the physical properties of a surface - that is, to the microscopic structure of a material.
“When T cells encounter specially designed structures on the nanometer scale - structures a thousand times smaller than the width of a hair - something astonishing happens,” says Prof. Enrico Klotzsch, lead author of the study and researcher at the Hereon Institute for Active Polymers in Teltow. “The cells are activated even though the usual biochemical activation signals are absent.” The tiny pores on the surface of the foreign material act as a kind of physical switch. Contact between the microvilli and the nanopores creates connections that trigger signals within the cell and, consequently, an immune response.
New possibilities for medicine
For the study, the researchers used anodized aluminum oxide, a type of biocompatible ceramic produced through an electrochemical etching process. In this process, high-purity aluminum foil is exposed to an electric current and acid, causing it to oxidize and form microscopic pores with a diameter of 250 nanometers on its surface. The researchers examined under a microscope how T cells interact with these nanoporous surfaces. To do so, they first isolated the cells from patients’ blood.
“The results show for the first time that the shape and structure of a material can directly influence the activation of immune cells. The study thus expands our scientific understanding of how cells perceive and respond to their environment,” says Enrico Klotzsch. In the long term, this knowledge could help develop new types of biomaterials that specifically regulate the immune system. Potential applications range from more effective immunotherapies against cancer to supporting tissue regeneration and smart implants that actively communicate with the body. “This could make treatments more effective while also being gentler on the body.”
As a next step, the researchers plan to investigate how different nanostructures influence the response of T cells and what effects this has on the immune system. The results will then be verified using T cells from cancer patients in order to better assess the potential for medical applications.
Cutting-edge research for a changing world
The aim of the research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is to preserve a world worth living in. To this end, approximately 1,000 staff members generate knowledge and explore new technologies to enhance resilience and sustainability – for the benefit of the climate, the coast and people. The path from idea to innovation involves a continuous interplay between experimental studies, modelling and artificial intelligence, culminating in digital twins that replicate the myriad parameters of climate and coastal environments or human biology within a computer. This takes an interdisciplinary approach, bridging the gap between a fundamental scientific understanding of complex systems and practical applications and real-world scenarios. As an active member of national and international research networks and the Helmholtz Association, Hereon supports policymakers, industry and society in shaping a sustainable future by sharing the expertise it has gained.
Prof. Enrico Klotzsch
Professor of Mechanistic Immunology
Hereon-Institute of Active Polymers
Phone: +49 3328 352204
E-Mail: enrico.klotzsch@hereon.de
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.5c16841
https://Hereon Institute of Active Polymers
https://hereon.de/institutes/active_polymers/index.php.en
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