A multi-institutional study led by researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and UC San Diego has uncovered new genetic rules that determine how powerful immune cells—known as CD8+ killer T cells—choose between becoming long-lasting, protective defenders or slipping into exhausted, dysfunctional states. The findings, published in Nature, reveal new strategies for sustaining immune memory while preserving the ability to fight cancer and infections, with broad implications for immunotherapy and infectious disease research.
This article was originally published on MedicalXpress.com
