T cells, also known as lymphocytes, have important roles in various immune reactions. However, there are only a few reports on delivery systems into T cells.
The T cell association of these dendrimers was examined at different pH and temperatures using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, where murine splenocytes stained with an anti-CD3 antibody were used. Along with this, the association of PAMAM-CHex-Phe and PAMAM-Phe-CHex with some culture cell lines and T cell subsets, such as CD4-positive helper T cells (CD3+CD4+), CD8- positive killer T cells (CD3+CD8+) and activated T cells (CD3+CD69+) was also examined. In order to confirm the internalization of these dendrimers into T cells, Assoc. Prof. Kojima and her co-workers used confocal microscopic imaging to observe the intracellular distribution of PAMAM-CHex-Phe and PAMAM-Phe-CHex.
Assoc. Prof. Kojima says that “although T cells play important roles in various immune reactions, there are only a few reports on delivery systems into T cells. In this study, we applied the Phe-modified dendrimers to a pH-sensitive drug delivery system into T cells. Dendrimers with different amino acids and acid anhydrides were synthesized, and their pH-responsive association with T cells and their subsets was investigated.”
This experimental study by Assoc. Prof. Kojima and her co-workers has successfully presented the findings in terms of a) Synthesis and pH sensitivity of the carboxy-terminal dendrimers bearing Phe; b) pH-responsive association of the carboxy-terminal dendrimers bearing Phe with T cells and T cell subsets including activated T cells; c) Internalization of PAMAM-Phe-CHex and PAMAM-CHex-Phe into T cells.
She concludes that their “results showed that Phe- and CHex-modified dendrimers have a delivery potential to T cells and their subsets. This will play a key role in cancer immunotherapy.”
Activation of lymph node-resident helper T cells and killer T cells as well as suppression of regulatory T cells localized in tumor tissues is necessary in cancer immunotherapy. Hence, based on the pH-responsive properties, the findings (dendrimers) obtained by Assoc. Prof. Kojima and her co-workers are important for the development of nanoplatforms for direct delivery to T cells to control the functions of T cells, which are useful for cancer immunotherapy.
News
Cold Sore Virus Linked to Alzheimer’s, Antivirals May Lower Risk
Summary: A large study suggests that symptomatic infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)—best known for causing cold sores—may significantly raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that people with HSV-1 were 80% [...]
Nanoparticle-Based Combination Therapy for Resistant Melanoma
A recent study published in Small addresses the persistent difficulty of treating refractory melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that often does not respond to existing therapies. Although diagnostic tools and immunotherapies have improved in [...]
Our DNA May Evolve Much Faster Than Previously Thought
Rapidly mutating DNA regions were mapped using a multi-generational family and advanced sequencing tools. Understanding how human DNA changes over generations is crucial for estimating genetic disease risks and tracing our evolutionary history. However, some of [...]
AI therapy may help with mental health, but innovation should never outpace ethics
Mental health services around the world are stretched thinner than ever. Long wait times, barriers to accessing care and rising rates of depression and anxiety have made it harder for people to get timely help. As a result, governments and health care providers are [...]
Global life expectancy plunges as WHO warns of deepening health crisis Post-COVID
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the long-term health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in its newly released World Health Statistics Report 2025. The report reveals a staggering decline in global [...]
Researchers map brain networks involved in word retrieval
How are we able to recall a word we want to say? This basic ability, called word retrieval, is often compromised in patients with brain damage. Interestingly, many patients who can name words they [...]
Melting Ice Is Changing the Color of the Ocean – Scientists Are Alarmed
Melting sea ice changes not only how much light enters the ocean, but also its color, disrupting marine photosynthesis and altering Arctic ecosystems in subtle but profound ways. As global warming causes sea ice in the [...]
Your Washing Machine Might Be Helping Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Spread
A new study reveals that biofilms in washing machines may contain potential pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, posing possible risks for laundering healthcare workers’ uniforms at home. Washing healthcare uniforms at home could be [...]
Scientists Discover Hidden Cause of Alzheimer’s Hiding in Plain Sight
Researchers found the PHGDH gene directly causes Alzheimer’s and discovered a drug-like molecule, NCT-503, that may help treat the disease early by targeting the gene’s hidden function. A recent study has revealed that a gene previously [...]
How Brain Cells Talk: Inside the Complex Language of the Human Mind
Introduction The human brain contains nearly 86 billion neurons, constantly exchanging messages like an immense social media network, but neurons do not work alone – glial cells, neurotransmitters, receptors, and other molecules form a vast [...]
Oxford study reveals how COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe illness
A landmark study by scientists at the University of Oxford, has unveiled crucial insights into the way that COVID-19 vaccines mitigate severe illness in those who have been vaccinated. Despite the global success of [...]
Annual blood test could detect cancer earlier and save lives
A single blood test, designed to pick up chemical signals indicative of the presence of many different types of cancer, could potentially thwart progression to advanced disease while the malignancy is still at an early [...]
How the FDA opens the door to risky chemicals in America’s food supply
Lining the shelves of American supermarkets are food products with chemicals linked to health concerns. To a great extent, the FDA allows food companies to determine for themselves whether their ingredients and additives are [...]
Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050
The number of lives lost around the world due to infections that are resistant to the medications intended to treat them could increase nearly 70% by 2050, a new study projects, further showing the [...]
How Can Nanomaterials Be Programmed for Different Applications?
Nanomaterials are no longer just small—they are becoming smart. Across fields like medicine, electronics, energy, and materials science, researchers are now programming nanomaterials to behave in intentional, responsive ways. These advanced materials are designed [...]
Microplastics Are Invading Our Arteries, and It Could Be Increasing Your Risk of Stroke
Higher levels of micronanoplastics were found in carotid artery plaque, especially in people with stroke symptoms, suggesting a potential new risk factor. People with plaque buildup in the arteries of their neck have been [...]
