Video 1 min read

Your immune system began developing even before you were born

Published the Updated By Sacha Tembe and Jeanne Fenouil

Certain immune cells—macrophages—appear as early as the embryonic stage. Elisa Gomez Perdiguero, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, explains how their “programming” before birth can influence our health decades later.
  • #Immune system
Tes racines immunitaires

Pour visionner cette vidéo, vous devez accepter le cookie YouTube.

© Script: Jeanne Fenouil and Sacha Tembe - Filmmaking: Jeanne Fenouil (video in french, english subtitles available translated by AI)

 

Did you know that your immune system starts developing before you are even born?

In your body, certain cells called macrophages (literally “big eaters”) work every day to protect you.

  • They repair your tissues,
  • remove dead cells,
  • and help you fight infections.

What is less well known is that these macrophages appear when you are still just an embryo. And depending on what happens during pregnancy (infection, inflammation, etc.), their “programming” can change and influence your health years later.

Elisa Gomez Perdiguero, a researcher at the Institut Pasteur, is studying how the immune system develops in the early stages of life. With her team, she is seeking to understand how these cells shape our defenses and our ability to heal throughout our lives.

By learning more about our immune origins, we can better understand how to protect ourselves in the future.