October 3, 2011

expert reaction to 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann “for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity” and to Ralph M. Steinman “for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity”.

Judith Willetts, CEO, British Society for Immunology, said:

“This year’s Nobel Laureates for Medicine are three mould-breaking immunologists. The work of Bruce Beutler, Jules Hoffmann and Ralph Steinman has given us a vital understanding into our bodies’ immune system and how it enables us to fight infection and disease. Their work in innate and adaptive immunity has allowed many others working in the field to develop new preventions and therapies in the fight against infections, cancer and other diseases.

“The recognition by the Nobel Committee of the work of Bruce Beutler & Jules Hoffmann, for their work in Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and Ralph Steinman for his discovery of the dendritic cell, is enormously important for the discipline of immunology as a whole, as these discoveries have helped to interconnect and consolidate key aspects of immune function – namely the function of innate and adaptive immune systems.

“In identifying a receptor (TLR4) on immune cells that responds specifically to a unique bacterial product (lipopolysaccharide or LPS), Beutler and Hoffmann started the work of uncovering the specific mechanisms that underlie the “hard wired” innate immune system that is able to respond quickly to a range of infective microorganisms without prior exposure.

“In identifying the dendritic cell, Ralph Steinman uncovered a key aspect of adaptive immunity, as these cells form an important part of the body’s infection surveillance system – gathering-up molecules from different parts of the body and ‘presenting’ them to effector cells of the adaptive immune system – thereby connecting identification with response.

“A further dimension to both sets of researchers’ work is provided with the realisation that dendritic cells also possess TLRs – and this allows these cells to form an important bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Dendritic cells may be activated via their TLRs, allowing innate signalling to initiate a more specific adaptive immune response.”

Dr Mark Downs FSB, Chief Executive of the Society of Biology, said:

“Understanding how the immune system works is essential for the treatment and prevention of diseases. The discoveries of these three Nobel Laureates is an excellent example of the impact we all get from investment in basic research, illustrating the benefits of understanding basic processes in the body and how long term they can impact clinical outcomes.”