Scientists have discovered that sugars coating immune cells—not just those lining blood vessels—play a key role in how inflammation develops in diseases such as psoriasis.
The finding could change how researchers think about immune cell movement and lead to new treatments for chronic inflammatory conditions.
The study, published in Science Signaling, was led by Dr. Amy Saunders from Lancaster University and Dr. Douglas Dyer from the University of Manchester, with their joint Ph.D. student Dr. Megan Priestley (now at MIT) as first author.
Our cells are covered by a protective, gel-like layer called the glycocalyx, which is made up of complex sugar molecules known as glycans.
For many years, scientists believed this sugary coating on blood vessel walls helped control how immune cells pass from the bloodstream into tissues—a vital process for fighting infections but one that can also cause harm in autoimmune or inflammatory diseases.
This new research challenges that long-held assumption. The team discovered that immune cells themselves also have their own glycocalyx, and they can shed parts of it to help them squeeze through blood vessel walls into the skin. This shedding process appears to make the immune cells more mobile during inflammation, helping them move more efficiently into affected tissues.
In laboratory experiments, researchers showed that breaking down a specific type of sugar molecule called heparan sulfate on the surface of immune cells made them move faster toward chemical signals linked to inflammation. This means the sugars on immune cells act almost like traffic lights—controlling when and how easily immune cells can migrate into tissues.
The discovery could have major implications for understanding diseases such as psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, leading to redness, scaling, and pain. By showing that immune cells regulate their own movement through glycocalyx changes, this study suggests new ways to design drugs that target inflammation more precisely.
“It’s really exciting to discover how important the glycocalyx layer is on immune cells,” said Dr. Saunders. “I hope this research lays the groundwork for future treatments for inflammatory diseases.”
Dr. Dyer added, “Working together on this project has helped us redefine how immune cell recruitment works. This is an important step toward finding better ways to manage inflammation.”
Dr. Priestley, who began the work as part of her Ph.D., said, “This project was incredibly fun and rewarding. I hope it brings more attention to the importance of sugars in the immune system.”
Because moving immune cells in and out of tissues is central to both fighting infections and controlling inflammation, these findings may open the door to a new generation of anti-inflammatory drugs that fine-tune the immune response instead of suppressing it entirely.
If you care about health, please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more health information, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
Source: Lancaster University.
