Unexpected form of immune memory in macrophages
Image credit: nci via Unsplash
A new study from the University of Chicago has uncovered a surprising form of immune memory, revealing that macrophages, cells traditionally thought to lack memory, can retain information about past immune responses. Published in the journal Cell Systems, the findings could eventually lead to new ways of controlling macrophage activity to better treat infections or autoimmune diseases. This discovery adds a new layer to our understanding of the immune system and how it adapts over time.
Source
Wang, A. G., Son, M., Gorin, A., Kenna, E., Padhi, A., Keisham, B., Schauer, A., Hoffmann, A., & Tay, S. (2025). Macrophage memory emerges from coordinated transcription factor and chromatin dynamics. Cell systems, 16(2), 101171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2025.101171
Additional Reading
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/researchers-uncover-surprising-new-way-immune-system-remembers