IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-T cells play a protective role in maintaining spinal health after intervertebral disc injury

T cells play a protective role in maintaining spinal health after intervertebral disc injury

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The talk focused on how immune cells, especially gamma delta T cells, may protect intervertebral discs (IVDs) from degeneration after injury. The speaker explained that low back pain is often caused by IVD degeneration, which currently has no disease-modifying treatment. Using a mouse tail needle-puncture model, they tracked injury over time and found that females showed less severe degeneration than males and had a strong gamma delta T cell response, while males did not. In T cell knockout mice, degeneration became worse, suggesting T cells are protective. Blocking gamma delta T cell signaling produced similar worsening and granuloma-like tissue. Single-cell RNA sequencing suggested injury-induced signaling pathways involving IL-17-related receptors and ligands. Overall, the study suggests gamma delta T cells, likely through IL-17 signaling, help limit IVD degeneration and may be future therapeutic targets for back pain.

Meta Tag

Date April 17, 2026 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Room 156

Session New Paradigms in T Cell Regulation

Speaker Sade Clayton

Track Immune Response Regulation: Cellular Mechanisms (IRC)

Year 2026

Keywords

gamma delta T cells

intervertebral disc degeneration

IL-17 signaling

low back pain

immune protection

April 17, 2026 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

156

New Paradigms in T Cell Regulation

Sade Clayton

Immune Response Regulation: Cellular Mechanisms (IRC)

2026