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0This study identifies a novel immune process where macrophages directly sample material from living cells without causing them harm. Unlike the traditional view that immune cells primarily gather self-antigens from dying tissue, researchers discovered a contact-dependent mechanism similar to trogocytosis that extracts submicrometre-sized cytoplasmic vesicles. Using advanced lattice light-sheet imaging and a specialized flow-based organelle profiling method, the authors found that this live-sampled material follows an alternative trafficking pathway that avoids rapid destruction in lysosomes. The study demonstrates that this unique processing significantly enhances the activation of CD8 T cells compared to antigens acquired through phagocytosis. By identifying the protein SNX27 as a key regulator in diverting this material from degradation, the research highlights a critical new layer in how the immune system maintains self-identity and tolerance.
References:
Fan A C, Thota R R, Serwas N, et al. Submicrometre sampling of living cells by macrophages[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-9.
