A cellular warning system primes distant plant tissues for defence
Researchers have uncovered a sophisticated early-warning system that plants use to alert uninfected tissues of a pathogen attack. When a plant cell detects a pathogen, it triggers a wave of apoplastic alkalinization (a rise in pH outside the cell) and releases signalling proteins called phytocytokines. This dual signal propagates from the initial infection site to distant parts of the plant, priming the entire organism’s immune defences for a more robust and coordinated response, thereby enhancing disease resistance.
Why it might matter to you:
This work reveals fundamental principles of systemic immune signalling and tissue-level communication that transcend plant biology. Understanding how a local insult triggers a protective state in distant tissues is directly relevant to studying chronic inflammatory conditions, like IVD inflammation, where localized damage leads to broader tissue dysfunction. The mechanistic insights into signal propagation and immune priming could inform strategies for enhancing tissue resilience in regenerative therapies or for developing novel adjuvants that modulate systemic immune readiness.
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