Scientists discover the immune system’s hidden sense of touch

Scientists at McGill University have discovered a surprising new ability of immune cells that could change how we understand long-term immunity. Researchers found that T cells can actually sense how stiff their surrounding tissues are, using these physical signals to help determine whether they develop into long-lasting memory cells that protect against future infections. Scientists discover the immune system’s hidden sense of touch.

For years, researchers believed that tissue-resident memory T cells, specialized immune cells that remain in the body’s tissues after an infection and respond quickly if the same threat returns, were guided mainly by chemical signals. A new study published in Nature Immunology challenges that assumption. The findings suggest that adjusting to the stronger mechanical forces within tissues may be important for these protective cells to survive over time.

"This is an exciting fundamental finding that challenges the way we think about immune cells," said lead author Judith Mandl, a professor in McGill’s Department of Physiology. "It suggests T cells can ‘feel’ their surroundings and adapt to them, making the physical environment an active force in shaping their behavior." The research brought together scientists from McGill’s Department of Physiology, the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, the Department of Bioengineering, and the McGill University Health Centre, along with collaborating institutions in the Netherlands and the United States.