🩸 From Blood Cells to Blotting: Decoding the Hidden Functions of Our Immune System

CUBE chat
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:dna: CUBE ChatShaala Summary – 09.10.2025

Today’s CUBE ChatShaala brought together participants including Arunan, Sailekshmi, Ayana, Batul, Sakshi, Shivani, Sneha, Susanta, Himanshu, Rechel (Ranchi), Dhanraj, Kashyap, and Seethalakshmi. The discussion beautifully wove concepts from immunology, cell biology, and molecular techniques—connecting the function of macrophages to the cutting-edge methods like Western and Southern Blotting used to study them.

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:microscope: Key Highlights

  1. ACTREC Visit Discussion
    The session opened with reflections on ACTREC – Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, a major hub for cancer research. The participants connected ACTREC’s work with immune system functions, especially focusing on macrophages – the “cleaners” of our body that engulf dead cells and pathogens.

  2. Blood Cell Lineage and Immunity
    Using a diagram of blood stem cells, we discussed how myeloid and lymphoid stem cells give rise to RBCs, platelets, and WBCs.

  • Neutrophils were identified as first responders.

  • Macrophages as phagocytes with signaling roles.

  • Lymphocytes (B, T, NK cells) as key players in adaptive immunity.
    This helped clarify how the immune system is built from stem cell decisions.

  1. Western vs Southern Blotting
    The whiteboard exploration guided us through two important lab techniques:

  • Western Blotting – detects proteins using antibodies (linked to chemiluminescence).

  • Southern Blotting – detects DNA sequences.
    Students linked these to real-world research at ACTREC, where such techniques help track cancer biomarkers and protein expression (like DDX5, DDX17).

  1. mTOR Pathway & Protein Synthesis
    The conversation also touched upon how mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) regulates cell growth and protein translation—showing how molecular control impacts immune function and cancer cell proliferation.

:bulb: What I Learned

  • The immune system is not isolated; it is directly influenced by protein synthesis pathways and cellular signaling like mTOR.

  • Western blotting is not just a lab term—it’s a window into understanding which proteins are active in health and disease.

  • How macrophages bridge innate and adaptive immunity by presenting antigens.

:star2: TINKE Moments (This I Never Knew Earlier )

  • Realizing that blood stem cells are the origin of every immune cell—the immune system literally grows from a single stem!

  • Understanding how blotting techniques are “molecular eyes” that let us visualize what is invisible within cells.

  • The connection between rapamycin (a drug) and how it can alter immune or cancer responses through mTOR inhibition was truly eye-opening.

:question: Gaps and Misconceptions Identified

  • Confusion existed about difference between Western and Southern blotting (protein vs DNA).

  • Some participants mixed up veins and arteries in the circulatory sketch—later clarified with color-coded blood flow.

  • The term mTOR was initially seen as an enzyme name alone, but it was clarified as part of a cell signaling pathway.

:mag: Provocative Questions for the Community

  1. :petri_dish: If macrophages are “cleaners,” could they also be “teachers” to other immune cells?

  2. :boom: What happens when the mTOR pathway becomes overactive in immune cells—could this be linked to cancer?

  3. :alembic: How does Western blotting help identify immune system disorders?

  4. :heart: Can studying the flow of blood and its cells help us design better cancer treatments?

  5. :brain: How can a single stem cell decide to become a soldier (lymphocyte) or a cleaner (macrophage)?

:books: Reference