New tool determines how T cells move inside tumors
Newswise – Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center led a study to develop a computational method that reveals how immune cells navigate the complex environment inside tumors, providing insights that could inform future cancer treatments. T cells are key players in the body’s defense against cancer, but many tumors create barriers that limit their ability to enter and work effectively.
In a study published in JCI InsightThe researchers presented a tool called ReMiTT that uses spatial genetics data to identify “migratory pathways” that show where T cells travel within tumor tissue. Using this approach, they found that specific signaling molecules increase along these pathways, suggesting that they help direct T cells to and through tumors. They also identified genes and biological processes associated with cell movement, adhesion, and tissue remodeling, factors that appear to support immune cell activity in these environments.
The findings provide a new way to study how tumors evade immune defense and could help guide strategies to improve immunotherapy by enhancing T-cell movement and function within tumors, the researchers said.
The UTSW scientists who contributed to this study are first author Lin Zhong, Ph.D., a former graduate student; Co-authors Qiwei Li, Ph.D., adjunct associate professor Health data science and biostatistics in Peter O’Donnell Jr. College of Public Health Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas; and Guanghua Xiao, Ph.Dprofessor of health data science and biostatistics, from Biomedical engineeringAnd in Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics; and Zikai Qi, MD, PhDand Siyuan Zhang, MD, PhDassociate professors pathology.
Blood flow shapes lung health in children with heart disease
A UTSW study sheds light on why children with some complex congenital heart defects are at risk for long-term lung complications — and points to a potential path to improving outcomes.
Children born with single ventricle congenital heart disease often undergo a Glenn procedure, a life-saving surgery that redirects blood flow to the lungs. However, this procedure eliminates the normal “pulsation” of pulmonary blood flow, and doctors have long noted that many patients later develop abnormalities in the blood vessels of the lungs.
In research published in JCI InsightThe researchers found that pulse is not just a byproduct of normal circulation, but rather plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the pulmonary arteries. Investigations involving data from patients, cells grown in the laboratory, and animal models have shown that pulsatile flow triggers signals that help maintain the structure and strength of blood vessel walls. When this pulsating force is lost, key molecular signals are reduced, leading to thinning of blood vessel walls and poor communication between cells.
The findings suggest that restoring or mimicking pulsatile blood flow can help maintain healthy pulmonary blood vessels in children with congenital heart disease, providing a potential new strategy to reduce complications and improve long-term outcomes.
The UTSW researchers who contributed to this study are the first author Stephen Spurgeon, MDAssistant Professor pediatrics; Lauren Tye, MDAssistant Professor of Pediatrics. Christopher Chaney, MDAssociate Professor Internal medicine; Surendranath Veeram Reddy, MDProfessor of Pediatrics; Mr. Tariq Hussein, MD, PhDProfessor of Pediatrics and X-rays; Thomas Carroll, Ph.Dprofessor of internal medicine and Molecular biology; and Ondine Cleaver, Ph.Dprofessor of molecular biology.
Monetary support may help heart patients continue taking their medications
A pilot study by UTSW researchers suggests that modest financial support may help low-income heart failure (HF) patients stay on their medications after leaving the hospital. The study published in Journal of the American College of Cardiologyenrolled 153 patients at Parkland Memorial Hospital within two weeks of admission to the hospital and were randomized to receive usual care or a one-time payment of $500.
After one month, 140 patients completed follow-ups, and those who received payment were more likely to take their medications, with an adherence rate approximately 20% higher. The findings highlight the potential impact of meeting basic economic needs as part of medical care, the researchers said.
Unlike previous programs that focused narrowly on copay assistance or care coordination, this study allowed patients to use the funds as needed, potentially alleviating broader financial stress that can interfere with recovery. The study found no differences between the two groups in symptoms, quality of life, or readmission to hospital. Because this is a small trial with short follow-up, larger and longer studies will be needed to determine whether financial support can improve outcomes, the authors said.
The UTSW researchers who contributed to this study are first author Neil Keshvani, MD, adjunct assistant professor of internal medicine; Syed Rizvi, MD, Cardiology Fellow; Anand Jain, BS, Clinical Research Assistant; Miriam Bustillo Rubio, MD, and Juan David Cuellar, MD, are postdoctoral researchers; James Miller, MD, Resident; Eric Peterson, MD, MPHProfessor of Internal Medicine, Vice Dean, and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research; and Ambarish Pandey, MDassociate professor of internal medicine Department of Cardiology and Division of Geriatrics.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty have received six Nobel Prizes, including 27 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 investigators from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Our approximately 3,400 full-time faculty are responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and are committed to rapidly translating scientific research into new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians in more than 80 specialties care for more than 143,000 hospitalized patients, attend more than 470,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.3 million outpatient visits annually.
About Parkland Health
Parkland Health is one of the largest public hospital systems in the country. Distinctive services at state-of-the-art Parkland Memorial Hospital include the Rees-Jones Level I Trauma Center, North Texas’s only American Burn Association-verified burn center for adult and pediatric patients, and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The system also includes two on-campus outpatient clinics – the Ron J. Anderson, Moody Outpatient Center, as well as more than 30 community clinics and numerous outreach and education programs. By growing diversity, inclusion and health equity efforts, Parkland works to enrich the health and wellness of the communities it serves. For more information, visit parklandhealth.org.
