The immune cells never rest and are ready for action when needed, PLUS study reveals – News – CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance [Μετάβαση στο περιεχόμενο](#main) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-01-CEiLnzkH.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-02-Dh7f4uYd.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-09-B3BMjMVU.svg) [ ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg)](https://civis.eu/el) - [ Ανακάλυψε ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) - [ Τι είναι το CIVIS; ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Αποστολή, Όραμα & Αξίες ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Διακυβέρνηση & Διαχείριση ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) [Ανοιχτά εργαστήρια & Συμμετοχή των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Σπούδασε ](https://civis.eu/el/learn) - [ Μικτά Εντατικά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Ευέλικτη μάθηση ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Μεταπτυχιακά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Εβδομάδες Κατάρτισης Προσωπικού & Παρακολούθηση Εργασίας ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Σπούδασε στο εξωτερικό ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) [Discover the projects led by our students in 2025-2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026) [Μουσείο CIVIS Φόρουμ Πανεπιστημίων ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/CIVIS-Museum-University-Forum) - [ Δίδαξε ](https://civis.eu/el/teach) - [ Προσκλήσεις υποβολής προτάσεων έργων ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/civis-calls) - [ Καινοτομήστε στη διδασκαλία σας ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Πόροι για εκπαιδευτικούς ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/resources-for-educators) [Μικτά Εντατικά Προγράμματα CIVIS: Ισχυρός Αντίκτυπος και Υψηλά Ποσοστά Ικανοποίησης, σύμφωνα με Νέα Έκθεση ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/civis-bips-strong-impact-and-high-satisfaction-new-report-finds) [Όταν η Τέχνη Υπερβαίνει τους Τίτλους των Ειδήσεων: Το CIVIS Open Lab Επαναδιεκδικεί την Έννοια του Σπιτιού ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/when-art-speaks-louder-than-headlines-civis-open-lab-reclaims-the-meaning-of-home) - [ Κάνε έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research) - [ Συνεργασία στην έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-collaboration) - [ Σταδιοδρομία, Δίκτυα & Κινητικότητα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Πόροι για ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/research/resources-for-researchers) [Είμαι ακαδημαϊκός/ερευνητής/-τρια ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-academic-researcher) [Αντιμέτωποι με Κοινές Προκλήσεις, Διαμορφώνοντας Κοινές Λύσεις για την Αφρική και την Ευρώπη ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/facing-common-challenges-shaping-joint-solutions-for-africa-and-europe) - [ Συνδέσου ](https://civis.eu/el/connect) - [ Ενημερωτικά Δελτία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) - [ Ημέρες CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/civis-days) - [ Κοινωνία των Πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) - [ Τύπος και Επωνυμία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) [Fake It Till You News It: Challenges and Solutions in Modern Media Student Innovation Forum ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026/civis-creathon-contest) [ Ιστορίες ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) el - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) Menu - [Ανακάλυψε](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-29) - [ Τι είναι το CIVIS; ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Το έργο μας ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Αποστολή, Όραμα & Αξίες ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Διακυβέρνηση & Διαχείριση ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Ποιος είναι Ποιος ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) - [Σπούδασε](https://civis.eu/el/learn) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-30) - [ Μικτά Εντατικά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Ευέλικτη μάθηση ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Μεταπτυχιακά προγράμματα ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Εβδομάδες Κατάρτισης Προσωπικού & Παρακολούθηση Εργασίας ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Σπούδασε στο εξωτερικό ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) - [Δίδαξε](https://civis.eu/el/teach) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-31) - [ Προσκλήσεις υποβολής προτάσεων έργων ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/civis-calls) - [ Καινοτομήστε στη διδασκαλία σας ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Πόροι για εκπαιδευτικούς ](https://civis.eu/el/teach/resources-for-educators) - [Κάνε έρευνα](https://civis.eu/el/research) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-32) - [ Συνεργασία στην έρευνα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-collaboration) - [ Σταδιοδρομία, Δίκτυα & Κινητικότητα ](https://civis.eu/el/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Πόροι για ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/research/resources-for-researchers) - [Συνδέσου](https://civis.eu/el/connect) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-33) - [ Ενημερωτικά Δελτία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) - [ Ημέρες CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/civis-days) - [ Κοινωνία των Πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) - [ Τύπος και Επωνυμία ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [ Ιστορίες ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) el - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) - [ ro ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/immune-cells-never-rest-ready-for-action-plus-study) 1. [The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) 2. The immune cells never rest and are ready for action when needed, PLUS study reveals The immune cells never rest and are ready for action when needed, PLUS study reveals ====================================================================================== CIVIS Highlights 24 Μαΐου 2024 Our immune system never takes a break, even if we are healthy, as it is permanently stimulated by healthy tissue. The finding, published in the [Nature Immunology](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-024-01804-1) journal, could be used to future develop drugs that specifically increase the alertness of our immune system. ![](/storage/files/picture-1-nikolaus-fortelny-christoph-bock-c-klaus-pichler-cemm-2.jpg) *PLUS Assistant Professor Nikolaus Fortelny & Medical University of Vienna's Christoph Bock | © Klaus Pichler / CeMM* When pathogens invade the body, the immune system must respond immediately to prevent or contain infection. But how do our immune cells stay ready when there is no attacker in sight? Scientists in Vienna and Salzburg, including PLUS Assistant Professor Nikolaus Fortelny, have come up with a fascinating explanation: they are stimulated by healthy tissue. This means that they never rest and are immediately ready for action when needed. How the immune system works --------------------------- Communication is crucial in immune defence: when a virus infects a cell, for example, the cell releases signalling molecules. This alerts defence cells, and our entire immune system is activated within a very short time. Immune cells process these signals in particular via the JAK-STAT signalling pathway - named after Janus, the two-headed Roman god of the beginning and the end. This signalling pathway acts like a direct line from signal recognition to the nucleus of the defence cells, where it activates a series of genes and sets the cells into attack mode. But even if there is no present danger, our defence cells must always be vigilant. At the same time, they must not cause any damage through unnecessary activity, as is the case with autoimmune diseases. How our defence cells maintain this balance was poorly understood so far. But a team of [Viennese research groups](http://www.jak-stat.at) including Professor Nikolaus Fortelny from the Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology at PLUS has now presented an explanation: > *The same JAK-STAT signalling pathway that activates the defence cells during an infection also keeps them on standby. The defence cells therefore only need to increase the intensity of the signalling pathway in the event of an infection; this is much faster than switching a signalling pathway on again completely”,* explains Christoph Bock, Principal Investigator at CeMM and Professor at MedUni Vienna. Taking into consideration that the genes of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway are sometimes pathologically altered in people with immune disorders and cancer, this research therefore also provides potential approaches for new therapies. **Learn more about the study from the [full article](https://www.plus.ac.at/news/immunzellen-in-den-startloechern-allzeit-bereit-ist-harte-arbeit/), in German.** Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/euko-at-bild-800x600.jpg?token=8b0e68266375a76c6818dc87522df43f)How young people in Austria use AI CIVIS Highlights 23 Φεβρουαρίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/how-young-people-in-austria-use-ai) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/internationalisation-800x600.png?token=e1b39583bd55dd3a1eea12a2c04d207d)University of Salzburg wins Internationalisation Award for Staff Mobility and Development CIVIS Highlights 17 Δεκεμβρίου 2025 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/university-of-salzburg-wins-internationalisation-award-for-staff-mobility-and-development) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/satelite-image-800x600.jpg?token=e6954cf1dbd14132e641dd6fb1b92d1d)Earth observation and geoinformatics empower humanitarian response CIVIS Highlights 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/earth-observation-and-geoinformatics-empower-humanitarian-response) [Ανακαλύψτε όλες μας τις ιστορίες](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) [ CIVIS Student Council gathers in Lausanne to advance student-led projects ](< https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/civis-student-council-gathers-lausanne-to-advance-student-led-projects >) [ Stockholm University signs declaration on open research information ](< https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/stockholm-university-signs-declaration-on-open-research-information >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither can be held responsible for them. ### Άνθρωποι - [ Φοιτητές-/τριες ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-a-student) - [ Ακαδημαϊκοί και ερευνητές ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-academic-researcher) - [ Διοικητικοί ](https://civis.eu/el/i-am-an-administrator) - [ Κοινωνία των πολιτών ](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Τύπος ](https://civis.eu/el/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) ### Χρήσιμοι σύνδεσμοι - [ Πόροι ](https://civis.eu/el/resources) - [ Πλατφόρμα CIVIS Agora ](https://civis.eu/el/civis-agora-the-operational-hub-of-the-civis-digital-campus) - [ Πρωτοβουλία των Ευρωπαϊκών Πανεπιστημίων ](https://civis.eu/el/european-universities-initiative) - [ Προηγούμενες εκδηλώσεις ](https://civis.eu/el/past-events) - [ Επικοινωνία ](https://civis.eu/el/contact) [Newsletters](https://civis.eu/el/connect/newsletters) ### Social networks - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/instagram.svg) Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/civis.eu/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/linkedin.svg) LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/civis-eu) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/facebook.svg) Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/CIVISEuropeanUniversity/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/youtube.svg) YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCm0FfreX81BuNH-znlRGQ) © 2026 – CIVIS – All rights reserved - [ Cookie Policy ](https://civis.eu/el/cookie-policy) - [ Privacy policy ](https://civis.eu/el/privacy-policy) Website by [Typi Design](https://typi.be) • Design by [Atelier Milky](https://ateliermilky.com) [ ](#top) Search