Exploding immune cells splatter potent toxins everywhere
4 hours ago
- #immunology
- #regenerative biology
- #cell death
- Researchers discovered a new type of immune cell named 'ruptoblasts' in planarian flatworms.
- Ruptoblasts explode via a process called ruptosis upon detecting the protein activin, causing rapid cell death in surrounding cells within minutes.
- This mechanism is distinct from previously known forms of cell death, representing a novel biological phenomenon.
- In experiments, a single ruptoblast's explosion killed up to 70 surrounding cells, including human cells.
- The discovery emerged while studying planarians' regenerative and immune responses to pathogens.