New Immune Cell on the Block During Viral Lung Infections / Nuova cellula immunitaria sul blocco durante le infezioni polmonari virali
New Immune Cell on the Block During Viral Lung Infections / Nuova cellula immunitaria sul blocco durante le infezioni polmonari virali Segnalato dal Dott. Giuseppe Cotellesa / Reported by Dr. Giuseppe Cotellesa Scientists have identified a novel group of immune cells in the lungs that are associated with the control of inflammation during viral infections, like influenza or possibly coronavirus. This discovery may help to advance the development of therapeutics to treat inflammation-related lung conditions such as bronchitis, influenza and potentially even COVID-19. Macrophages are an important subset of phagocytic immune cells found throughout the body that form part of our body’s first line of defense against invading foreign material, including bacteria and viruses. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are a well-known inhabitant of the lungs and are responsible for direct clearance of viruses. This new group of immune cells, identified in the lungs of mice, are a distinct gr