Scientists at the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre have identified cells that can heal damaged tissue and may be used to help heal damaged tissues and treat diseases. These cells are found in large numbers all over our body and have most probably played an important role in the survival of both humans and animals over millions of years.
Despite being found in abundance in different organs all over the body, these cells were only identified in the last few years and the researchers were unsure of their actual role having initially suspected they protect us against bacterial infections. The cells are a type of white blood cell called ‘Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells’, or ‘MAIT cells’ for short.
Working with colleagues at the University of Melbourne, in Australia, the Oxford group has since shown that MAIT cells can also protect us against viral infections like influenza. However the new discovery that these cells play an important role in repairing damaged tissue and healing is very exciting and opens up the possibility that these cells could be used in the future in new therapies.