Discovering the Role of Erythroblast-like Cells in Fighting Lung Injury

Have you ever heard about how certain cells in your spleen can help protect your lungs during an injury? Well, scientists have found a type of cell called Ter-cells that can do just that! These cells, which come from an interesting mix of megakaryocyte and erythroid progenitor cells, have a unique set of markers: Ter-119+, CD45-, and CD71+. When inflammation happens in the lungs, these Ter-cells get drawn into the action and start producing a special factor called artemin. Artemin is like a tiny warrior that fights against the injury and keeps it from getting worse. By blocking this secreted artemin, lung injury can become more severe. In fact, without artemin, the protective role of Ter-cells almost vanishes. What's more, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have higher levels of artemin in their blood, and this leads to a better outlook for them. So, Ter-cells and their secreted artemin could be really important in fighting lung injuries, and this discovery might open doors to new treatments and ways to predict how well patients will do.