Beyond the plate: what studying cell communication in 3D teaches us about immunology and research

28 October 2022

Alon Oyler-Yaniv
Department of Systems Biology
Harvard Medical School

zoom recording

Abstract

The use of standard cell culture assays has been phenomenally useful in helping us understand cell-to-cell signaling in the immune system. However, these models contain hidden assumptions that may or may not be valid when extrapolating to real tissue. We show that within a 3D environment, cytokine signaling can be localized to small active niches. This source of cell-to-cell variability, and its consequences for the immune response, is largely ignored. We will discuss how this new realization: 1. Changed our understanding of the role of Interleukin-2 in the immune system; 2. Clarified our thinking on the action of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes; And 3. exposed a paradox in the search for druggable targets within solid tumors.

current theory lunch schedule