Canal-U

Dr Raphaël Duivenvoorden - Trained Immunity as a novel therapeutic strategy

Innate immune cells form a vital first line of defense against pathogens, and their activation upon recognition of pathogens is rapid and non-specific. For a long time it has been assumed that innate immune cells do not develop immunological memory. However, over the past years this view has been challenged. A new concept has emerged, referred to as trained immunity. Upon stimulation of innate immune cells, long-term functional and epigenetic reprogramming can occur. Although the cells return to a non-activated state after the initial stimulus, they develop an enhanced secondary response to a subsequent non-specific stimulus. This shows that the innate immune system exhibits adaptive characteristics, which may have evolved to provide greater protection against reinfection. In this presentation we will reflect on the concept and underlying immunological mechanisms of trained immunity and discuss how trained immunity can be utilized as a therapeutic strategy to prevent infection and potentially treat other immune related diseases.