LMU researchers have shown that a particular type of immune cell acts more flexibly than previously thought—with the potential for new therapeutic approaches.

As part of the innate immune system, dendritic cells are the body’s first line of defense against infections. They detect pathogens and coordinate the immune response. An international team led by Professor Barbara Schraml from LMU’s Biomedical Center has now carried out an extensive study of a new type of dendritic cell and uncovered its important role in the body’s immune response. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As the researchers demonstrate, dendritic cells that are marked by expression of the transcription factor RORγt—so-called RORγt⁺ dendritic cells (DCs)—are found in many tissues. Moreover, they have been conserved across many species in the course of evolution, which suggests they have essential functions.