The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden announced on Monday (6) that the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine will be shared between Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi. The trio was recognized for discoveries that transformed the understanding of the immune system and explained how the human body avoids attacking itself.
According to g1, the researchers identified the crucial role of regulatory T cells, also known as the “guards” of the immune system, essential for preventing autoimmune diseases and maintaining the body’s balance.
The Discovery that Revolutionized Immunology
In 1995, Japanese immunologist Shimon Sakaguchi revealed the existence of a new type of immune cell — regulatory T cells — that act as a barrier against improper attacks by the immune system. Until then, it was believed that immunological tolerance was limited to the elimination of dangerous cells in the thymus, a mechanism known as central tolerance.
Through his research, Sakaguchi demonstrated that there is also peripheral tolerance, sustained by cells that patrol the body and prevent self-destructive reactions. “These discoveries were decisive for us to understand how the immune system works and why not everyone develops severe autoimmune diseases,” stated Olle Kämpe, president of the Nobel Committee for Medicine.
The FOXP3 Gene and the Link Between Genetics and Immunity
Years later, in 2001, Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell discovered that a mutation in the FOXP3 gene was behind a severe autoimmune syndrome called IPEX, observed in mice and children with severe inflammations. This mutation prevented the proper development of regulatory T cells.
In 2003, Sakaguchi confirmed that the FOXP3 gene is the main regulator of these cells, establishing a fundamental link between the findings of the three scientists. This connection consolidated the new field of peripheral immune tolerance, which today forms the basis for experimental therapies seeking to modulate the immune system.
Medical Applications and New Horizons
The discoveries by Brunkow, Ramsdell, and Sakaguchi paved the way for treatments for autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis, in addition to contributing to research in oncology and organ transplants.
Current studies are testing the use of interleukin-2 to stimulate the multiplication of regulatory T cells and reinforce immune balance. Other research fronts are betting on personalized cell therapy, multiplying regulatory T cells in the laboratory and reinjecting them into patients with severe inflammations.
The Nobel Committee highlighted that, with these discoveries, “the laureates laid the foundations for the development of treatments that can benefit millions of people”.
Source: brasil247.com