Recently, the research team led by Professor Lu Qianjin from the Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, in collaboration with scientific research forces including the University of Queensland in Australia, published an important research result in the international top journalImmunity (IF=26.3), unlocking a new path for Tfh cell immune regulation and providing a new target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Follicular helper T cells are the core regulatory cells of humoral immunity, and their abnormal activation is closely related to various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The study first revealed that GGPP generated by the mevalonate pathway can promote the differentiation of these cells through specific modification, and this regulatory axis is regulated by T cell receptor signals and is overactivated in autoimmune diseases.
The study confirmed that statins such as pitavastatin can inhibit this pathogenic axis, precisely suppress pathogenic immune cells, and alleviate autoimmune symptoms. This achievement clarifies a new mechanism of metabolic regulation of follicular helper T cells, provides potential strategies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and optimization of vaccine responses, and demonstrates China's scientific research breakthroughs in the field of immunology.
