Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute have discovered that the protein present in the immune cells of the body is capable of sensing temperature changes.
The findings were published on the internet by Nature Chemical Biology. The study mentioned that T lymphocytes play a key part in triggering the immune cells. The importance of the STIM1 protein, which was earlier called as endoplasmic reticulum calcium sensor, in the immune system and its calcium sensing abilities has already been established.
Ardem Patapoutian, a research professor at Scripps, explained that the temperature sensing ability of the immune cells was a new discovery and the studies at Scripps experimentally show how this property is important for activating the immunity function.
The research team has so far discovered three members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family and is working to discover the remaining three members. The team calls these cells as thermoTRPs, whose main function is to translate the temperature change to a chemical signal. The team further explained that the immune cells experience sharp changes in temperature during physiological conditions such as fever.
The team is confident that by identifying a molecular sensor inside immune cells one can find answers to many unanswered questions about the immune system. Another characteristic of the STIM1 protein that was discovered by the researchers was that it can be activated by high heat as it is highly sensitive to temperature. The STIM1proteins are mobilised due to sudden change in temperature as a result they move close to the plasma membrane. Here, they activate the Orai1 cells that inturn causes an increase in calcium flow. Calcium is an important component that performs various celluar functions; it is an essential substance that activates immune cells. Armed with the research findings, the researchers are expanding their study to cells other than immune cells, such as those present in the brain, skin, blood platelets etc.