Scientists Discover Immune Cells That Explode Like Tiny…

Scientists Discover Immune Cells That Explode Like Tiny Bombs to Kill Invaders Researchers at Stanford have identified a genuinely novel type of immune cell that destroys nearby threats by exploding, so rapidly and completely that the cell disappears within minutes, leaving almost no trace behind. The discovery, made in flatworms, could offer fresh clues for developing more targeted treatments against infections and cancer. Where this discovery came from: Researchers were studying planarian flatworms, small aquatic creatures famous for their extraordinary regenerative ability, even when cut into pieces, they can rebuild missing tissue and sometimes form entirely new organisms. A researcher in the lab was investigating a long standing question, can flatworms actually distinguish their own tissue from that of another individual. The experiment that revealed the new cells: Researchers sliced worms lengthwise and fused each half with tissue from a different worm, creating fused "Frankenstein" worms. While flatworms are excellent at rebuilding their own bodies, these fused worms actively rejected tissue from unrelated individuals, similar in concept to how a human immune system might reject a transplanted organ. But the actual cellular response looked nothing like anything seen in humans. What researchers actually observed: As the fused worms began rejecting foreign tissue, researchers detected a surge in a hormone called activin, followed by intense inflammation. The animals didn't die immediately, but perished within several days. Injecting activin directly into hea