IntereSTING Mechanism of T Cell Death

Date Created:

2025-08-09

Course Title:

Professor:

Nicholas Garaffo and Nir Hacohen

About Paper:

STING agonists are exciting because they can wake up anti-tumor immunity, but there is a catch: prolonged STING activation can damage the very T cells that immunotherapy needs. This project separates the helpful immune alarm from a harmful side effect by focusing on STING's proton channel function. In primary human T cells, blocking that channel appeared to rescue proliferation problems and reduce reactive oxygen species. The work points toward a better therapeutic balance: activate immune responses against tumors while protecting the adaptive immune cells that make those responses durable. Source: 2025 Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village Abstract Book

Topics:

STING signaling, T cells, cancer immunotherapy, immune cell health

Co-authors:

@nicholasgaraffo81 , @nirhacohen82