Medical Xpress· Medical Xpress - Immunology·· 16 hours agoPickScore56
Embryos harbor immune cells that already perform adult-like defense functions, study suggests
In brief
A University of Turku team has published a study in Nature Communications showing that large populations of neutrophils are present in several developing embryonic tissues in mice. The researchers confirmed that these cells perform immune functions similar to adult neutrophils, including phagocytosis of particles, production of reactive oxygen species, and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.
Why it matters
The brief reports that mouse embryonic neutrophils already perform adult-like defense functions, suggesting roles beyond immunity in tissue homeostasis.
Source: Medical Xpress · medicalxpress.com