Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Show Promise Beyond Cancer: New Role in Tissue Repair Discovered
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A groundbreaking study reveals that immune checkpoint inhibitors, already known for their success in cancer treatment, also play a crucial role in promoting tissue healing, possibly opening new avenues for treating fibrosis and chronic wounds.
The body’s immune system utilizes natural “brakes,” known as checkpoint inhibitors, to prevent overreactions.These inhibitors reside on the surface of immune cells and are ofen disabled in cancer therapy to allow the immune system to more effectively target tumor cells. However, researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have uncovered a surprising additional function for one of these inhibitors, TIGIT. Previous research indicated TIGIT offered some protection against tissue damage during viral infections in mice.
“We suspected that TIGIT also has something to do with tissue repair.However, the underlying mechanisms where fully unknown until now,” explained Nicole Joller, Professor of Immunology at UZH’s Department of Quantitative Biomedicine.
TIGIT: A Key regulator of Tissue Regeneration
Joller’s team recently identified the specific signaling pathway thru which TIGIT promotes tissue repair. their inquiry, published in Nature Immunology in July 2025, utilized mice infected with the rodent virus LCMV. The results demonstrated that mice lacking the gene for TIGIT experienced considerably more tissue damage, particularly in blood vessel walls and the liver, compared to a control group. This confirmed TIGIT’s protective role.
Further analysis revealed that only immune cells with TIGIT on their surface produced a specific growth factor in response to viral infection. This growth factor is a critical activator of multiple repair mechanisms and is central to tissue regeneration. The team later persistent how TIGIT upregulates the gene responsible for producing this vital growth factor.
Balancing Immunity and Tissue Protection
“Our findings show that TIGIT promotes the production of a growth factor in immune cells – one that is critical for repairing tissue after viral infections,” Joller stated. “In doing so, her team successfully identified and described a hitherto unknown function of checkpoint inhibitors.” The research sheds new light on the delicate balance between a robust immune defense and effective tissue protection.
– Immune checkpoint inhibitors, traditionally used in cancer treatment, can also help the body repair damaged tissues. This revelation could lead to new therapies for conditions like fibrosis and chronic wounds.
Understanding this interplay is particularly relevant given the tissue-damaging effects of viral infections like influenza or COVID-19, which can severely impact organs such as the lungs, liver, and blood vessels. .
Potential for New Therapies
The implications of this discovery extend beyond viral infections. Joller envisions potential for innovative treatments targeting conditions characterized by tissue damage, such as chronic wounds and liver fibrosis, a disease marked by excessive scar tissue buildup. “We could potentially activate the TIGIT checkpoint to accelerate the regenerative process,” she suggests.
– Researchers are exploring ways to activate the TIGIT checkpoint to speed up tissue regeneration, offering a potential new approach to treating chronic wounds and liver fibrosis.
This research represents a meaningful step forward in understanding the multifaceted role of immune checkpoint inhibitors and offers a promising new direction for therapeutic growth.
Source: Panetti, C., et al. (2025). The co-inhibitory receptor TIGIT promotes tissue-protective functions in T cells. Nature Immunology. doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02300-w
