How immunotherapy could help us beat cancer | Deepta Bhattacharya | TEDxUArizona

Summary

In this talk, immunologist Leen Sattout discusses the intricacies of the adaptive immune system, explaining its crucial role in defending the body against infections and how it can be harnessed for future immunotherapies. She highlights the evolution of the immune response, focusing on the development of mRNA vaccines and their interaction with the immune system. Sattout also explores the potential for immunotherapy in cancer treatment, emphasizing recent breakthroughs in personalized vaccines that could train the immune system to fight cancer. Her enthusiasm for the future of immunology and immunotherapy underscores the promise of this field.

Takeaways

• 😀 The immune system is essential for protecting the body from various threats like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, and is constantly adapting to fight them.
• 😀 The adaptive immune system is based on the concept of 'self' vs. 'non-self,' where immune cells identify and remember foreign invaders like viruses, bacteria, and mutated cells.
• 😀 Early theories about the immune system suggested cells adapted like Silly Putty, but research now shows that the immune system generates diverse cells with unique 'keys' that lock onto invaders.
• 😀 The mRNA vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, train the immune system to recognize and respond to specific virus proteins, like the spike protein, by generating antibodies and activating T cells.
• 😀 B cells in the immune system produce antibodies that lock onto foreign proteins like virus spike proteins, preventing replication and infection.
• 😀 T cells target and kill infected cells by recognizing viral proteins presented on the surface, stopping the virus from spreading.
• 😀 mRNA vaccines prepare the immune system by teaching it to recognize and fight off specific pathogens without causing the disease itself, providing immunity.
• 😀 The adaptive immune system’s ability to recognize mutations in cancer cells offers the potential for new treatments that could make the immune system attack cancer cells.
• 😀 Early studies have shown promising results for mRNA vaccines in cancer patients, suggesting the immune system can be trained to fight cancer similarly to how it fights infections.
• 😀 Personalized cancer treatments using mRNA vaccines could potentially target specific mutations in a patient’s cancer cells, offering hope for tailored therapies.
• 😀 While some cancer patients responded well to mRNA vaccines, others did not, highlighting the need for further research to understand why these therapies work for some and not others.
• 😀 The future of immunotherapy is exciting, as ongoing research seeks to harness the power of the immune system to treat not just infections, but diseases like cancer, through innovative therapies.

Q & A

What is the adaptive immune system, and why is it important?

The adaptive immune system is part of the immune system that specifically recognizes and remembers pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. It works by creating a variety of immune cells, each capable of recognizing different pathogens, and retains a memory of previously encountered ones. This system is crucial for long-term immunity and protection against infections.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic change the way immunologists communicate their research?

The pandemic made immunology research of global interest, prompting immunologists to communicate complex scientific concepts to the general public. Initially, many researchers simplified their explanations, aiming to make them understandable to younger audiences, but eventually realized that people wanted to know the deeper, more intricate science behind the immune system and vaccines.

What was the initial approach taken by immunologists to communicate their research to the public?

Immunologists initially simplified their messages so that they could be understood by elementary school children. The goal was to make complex scientific concepts easier to grasp for the general public, especially when discussing the immune system and vaccines during the pandemic.

What mistake did immunologists realize they were making when simplifying their messages?

Immunologists realized that by oversimplifying the concepts, they were glossing over the complexity that makes the immune system fascinating and important to study. This approach missed an opportunity to engage the public with the deeper science behind the immune system and immunological therapies.

How does the adaptive immune system recognize and combat pathogens like viruses?

The adaptive immune system works by producing a vast array of immune cells, each slightly different. These cells, like keys, search for foreign invaders like viruses. When they encounter a match, they lock onto the virus, preventing it from replicating and producing copies of themselves to protect the body if the virus is encountered again.

How do mRNA vaccines work with the adaptive immune system?

mRNA vaccines instruct cells to produce a protein, such as the spike protein of the coronavirus, which is not normally made by the body. This protein is recognized by the adaptive immune system, which then generates immune responses to prepare the body for potential infection. B cells produce antibodies to stop the virus, while T cells target infected cells for destruction.

What role do B cells play in the adaptive immune response to vaccines?

B cells are a key part of the immune system that recognize foreign proteins like the spike protein produced by mRNA vaccines. Once they detect the protein, B cells multiply and produce antibodies that bind to the virus, preventing it from entering cells and stopping it from replicating.

How do T cells contribute to immunity after vaccination?

T cells help by detecting cells that have already been infected by a virus. These infected cells display viral proteins on their surfaces. If a T cell recognizes the viral proteins, it multiplies and works to kill the infected cells, thereby stopping the virus from replicating.

What is the potential for using the adaptive immune system to fight cancer?

Cancer cells often develop mutations that turn self-proteins into non-self-proteins, which can make them targets for the adaptive immune system. Researchers are exploring ways to use mRNA vaccines to instruct the immune system to target cancer cells, similar to how vaccines protect against infections.

What promising findings were made in cancer patients using mRNA vaccines?

Researchers found that mRNA vaccines used in cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, were surprisingly effective. The vaccines successfully prompted immune responses in many patients, leading to better protection against infections. In some cases, mRNA vaccines also seemed to stimulate the immune system to target cancer cells, offering new possibilities for cancer immunotherapy.

How could personalized mRNA vaccines help treat cancer in the future?

Personalized mRNA vaccines could be developed by sequencing a cancer patient's tumor to identify specific mutations. The vaccine could then be tailored to target those mutations, training the immune system to attack the cancer cells without harming normal cells. This approach could potentially offer a new treatment option for various cancers.