BWH Researchers Generate New T Cells from Adult Skin Tissue and Bone Marrow Stem Cells
First ever discovery could help researchers better treat immunodeficiencies and malignancies

Boston - Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), for the first time, have discovered that adult skin tissue and bone marrow stem cells can be used to create T cells-cells that are largely responsible for fighting disease in the human body.  The knowledge of this system could someday help researchers ‘recharge’ the immune process when T cells are lost to diseases such as HIV or after chemotherapy for cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma.  These findings were posted online on October 13, 2005 and will be published in the November 1, 2005 print issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
T cells, which are developed in the thymus throughout childhood and adolescence, are produced in fewer numbers in adulthood.  Adults stricken with immunodeficiences and malignancies are often left with weakened immune systems that are unable to fight disease and infection.

“The ability to create human T cells means that we are able to potentially augment a weakened immune response,” said lead author, Rachel Clark, MD, PhD, associate physician in the Department of Dermatology at BWH.  “The new T cells created from a patient’s own skin tissue and bone marrow can help restore a person’s ‘immune memory,’ the ability to recognize infections and recall that response when needed.”

According to the researchers, these new cells may also understand what is normal tissue - which differs from patient to patient - and can prevent it from being harmed, a common downfall when T cells are transplanted from unrelated bone marrow donations.

“Further research is needed to refine a system that will allow the production of ‘designer cells’ that will have the ability to fight certain disease dependent on patient’s needs,” said Clark, who is also an instructor in dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

Please contact BWH Media Relations for more information at (617) 534-1600 or BWHMediaRelations@partners.org.

BWH is a 747-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. BWH is committed to excellence in patient care with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery. The BWH medical preeminence dates back to 1832 and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, dedication to educating and training health care professionals, and strength in biomedical research. With $370M in funding and more than 500 research scientists, BWH is an acclaimed leader in clinical, basic and epidemiological investigation - including the landmark Nurses Health Study, Physicians Health Studies, and the Women's Health Initiative. For more information visit www.brighamandwomens.org