Imiejen Althea M.

Pineda General Biology

12 STEM – Integrity Science News Article

Title:

“Discovery of an unexpected function of blood immune cells: Their ability to proliferate”

Summary:

According to the article, the ability of a cell to divide, to proliferate, is essential for life and gives rise to
the formation of complex organisms from a single cell. It also allows the replacement of used cells from
a limited number of 'stem' cells, which then proliferate and specialize. In cancer, however, cell
proliferation is no longer controlled and becomes chaotic. Researchers from the GIGA Institute at the
University of Liège have discovered that, in a healthy individual, certain blood immune cells, the
monocytes, also have this ability to proliferate, with the aim to replace tissue macrophages, which are
essential for the proper functioning of our body.

Reflection/Reaction:

Reading this article astounded me and made me want to know more. Knowing that our current
knowledge knows that majority of the cells that make up a living thing originate from so-called "stem"
cells, which have undergone a process called mitosis to divide in order to produce more cells. Once they
have specialized, differentiated, and become immune cells, muscles, the brain, bones, etc., these cells
stop reproducing. When proliferation is no longer well controlled, several illnesses, with cancer being
the most glaring example, can arise. Yet, these incredible researchers have found that this proliferative
ability is not just exclusive to stem cells but also a previously undiscovered activity of blood immune cells
called monocytes. In fact, blood monocytes, which were once thought to be differentiated cells, are able
to multiply and create a pool of monocytes in the tissues to give rise to macrophages, which are crucial
immune cells that defend us against pathogens and help our organs operate normally. Because cell
proliferation is so well regulated and does not result in a tumoral process, this important discovery will
provide new knowledge to everyone and change how people think about the role that cell proliferation
plays in the development and maintenance of the immune system. Its only purpose is to allow the
macrophages, which are immune cells that fill our tissues, to be replaced as efficiently as possible.

Reference/Author:

University of Liege. "Discovery of an unexpected function of blood immune cells: Their ability to
proliferate." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 March 2023.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230317144955.htm