Every day, the human gut works on a fine-tuned balance that ensures the retention of essential nutrients while preventing infection by potential harmful microbes. Contributing to this surveillance system is a specialized group of immune cells that are held back due to unknown reasons, although they have many characteristics of activated cells. Now, a new study led by Marc Veldhoen, group leader at Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM; Portugal) shows how these cells are kept under control. The work published now in Science Immunology reveals that the mitochondria of these cells have a different composition that reduces their energy production capacity, keeping them in a controlled activated mode. This knowledge can give rise to new diagnostics and treatments for conditions affecting the digestive tract such as gut inflammation or infections.
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