GoKawiilStudy links prior parasite infection to lung macrophage changes aiding flu tolerance
Researchers at NYU Langone used mouse models with genetically modified nematode-specific macrophage populations to study how a prior type 2 immune response—triggered by parasitic infection—reprograms lung-resident macrophages. The team found these reprogrammed macrophages later helped mice tolerate a subsequent, unrelated viral infection with less lung damage, using genomic, microscopy, flow cytometry and functional assays in mice engineered to lack specific macrophage populations or the Arg1 gene.