The immune system keeps us healthy by maintaining a delicate balance. Every cell has a purpose: Some sound the alarm when they see an invader. Some attack germs that don’t belong. And some patrol the other cells in the immune system to make sure they’re doing their job.
Bad things happen when this balance is disrupted. When immune cells called T cells become overactive they cause autoimmune disease. When they are underactive it can lead to cancer. Scientists at BRI are honing in on the role Tregs (a rare, specialized type of T cell) play in maintaining this balance or letting it go awry.
