Three Scientists Win 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine for Immune System Breakthroughs
Three scientists have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking work on the immune system. Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi were recognised for their discoveries related to peripheral immune tolerance.
Sakaguchi, who worked at Kyoto and Osaka universities, first identified regulatory T-cells in the 1980s. These cells play a crucial role in distinguishing between the body's own cells and foreign pathogens or substances. Brunkow, currently at the Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, and Ramsdell, now a scientific advisor at Sonoma Biotherapeutics, later found the Foxp3 gene, which controls the development of regulatory T-cells. This gene is linked to autoimmune diseases like IPEX syndrome.
Their findings identified the phenomenon of peripheral tolerance, paving the way for new medical treatments against cancer and autoimmune diseases. The Foxp3 gene ensures regulatory T-cells monitor other immune cells, preventing them from attacking our own tissues, and helps these cells return to their resting state after fighting off pathogens. The Nobel Committee praised their discoveries as crucial for understanding how the immune system works and preventing severe autoimmune diseases.
Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi's pioneering work has significantly advanced our understanding of the immune system. Their discoveries have opened new avenues for therapies, potentially leading to more effective treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
