Ever wondered what keeps your immune system in check when it starts misbehaving? On this week’s podcast, Professor Luke O’Neill explains the world of regulatory T cells—the immune system’s very own “military police.” These tiny guardians stop other cells from attacking the body, helping prevent autoimmune diseases and keeping us healthy. 

Luke takes us through the Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi, who cracked the secrets of immune tolerance. Back in 1995, Sakaguchi discovered these remarkable regulatory T cells, proving that the immune system is far more sophisticated than previously thought. Brunkow and Ramsdell uncovered the critical role of the Foxp3 gene in autoimmune diseases, and Sakaguchi later linked the Foxp3 gene to the development of these life-saving cells. Luke even shares insights from a recent encounter with Sakaguchi himself! 

If you’ve ever been curious about how the body avoids attacking itself, or how groundbreaking immunology research leads to real-world insights, this episode is your backstage pass to the science of regulatory T cells. 

Got questions, ideas, or thoughts for Luke? Email him directly at laoneill@tcd.ie