Articles tagged with Immune Cells
Researchers found that bacteria, such as E. coli, use CRISPR-Cas immunity to transfer and incorporate DNA, accelerating genetic reshuffling under starvation stress. This process may help bacterial populations adapt to changing conditions, resembling a primitive form of sexual reproduction.
In a mouse study, researchers found that blocking the immune response to tau protein can prevent brain cell death in Alzheimer's disease. By injecting an antibody that blocks CXCR3, they reduced T cell infiltration into the brain, preserving more brain tissue and reducing nerve cell damage. This approach offers a new strategy for treat...
Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) form tight anatomical associations with sensory, autonomic, and enteric nerve fibers, receiving neural regulation through activating and inhibitory pathways. ILC2s also secrete cytokines that can act back on neurons, forming positive feedback loops that modulate allergic and anti-infective immunity.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have discovered how SARS-CoV-2 protein ORF8 hijacks immune cells to cause hyperinflammation, leading to severe lung damage. Blocking ORF8 reduces lung inflammation and damage in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, offering a promising new path for developing treatments.
The new guidelines, developed by leading experts, focus on improving sepsis care by strengthening systems for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and quality improvement. Emerging technologies, such as next-generation diagnostics and artificial intelligence, are also being explored to enhance sepsis care.
Researchers have developed a computational framework to design and fabricate crisscross DNA megastructures, expanding accessibility to DNA nanotechnology. This breakthrough enables the construction of complex structures with precise control, opening up new avenues for applications in fields like optics, immunology, and tissue engineering.
Christopher Goodnow's work challenged the concept of complete clonal deletion, revealing self-reactive B cells' ability to acquire self-tolerance and potentially cause autoimmune disease. His research discovered that these cells are essential for immune function and can be converted into functional B cells through 'clonal redemption'.
Researchers develop nanoparticles that target tumor-associated macrophages, reprogramming them to attract cancer-fighting T cells. The approach shows promise in reducing immune-suppressing macrophages and increasing cancer-fighting T cells, with potential for improving immunotherapy for solid cancers.
A Korea University study found that an mRNA-based influenza vaccine elicits a more diverse and broader serum antibody repertoire than traditional vaccines. This leads to greater binding and neutralizing breadth against diverse influenza strains, suggesting potential for broader, longer-lasting protection.
The 2026 Josep Carreras Institute Symposium explores the latest immunology advances in haematological malignancies, transforming treatment landscapes with CAR-T therapies and checkpoints. Major challenges remain in understanding tumour-immune system interactions and therapeutic resistance.
A KAIST research team found that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) preserves T cells' function and enhances the efficacy of immunotherapy for intractable brain tumors. ATRA suppresses 'terminal exhaustion' in cancer-attacking CD8⁺ T cells, allowing them to maintain their ability to kill brain tumor cells.
Researchers developed small molecules that activate macrophages to attack cancer cells, weakening the tumor's defenses against the immune system. The molecules, called Phagocytic Synapse Enhancers, were tested in cell cultures and animal models and showed promising results, slowing tumor growth and extending survival.
Researchers discovered that immune cells contributing to neurodegeneration originate in the lymph nodes outside the brain, and blocking these instructions can mitigate neurodegeneration. The study suggests a new pathway to halt or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other primary tauopathies.
A recent study shows how advanced optical imaging can reveal the metabolic activity of individual immune cells within a complex blood sample. Machine-learning algorithms were used to determine whether metabolic measurements alone could identify different immune-cell populations and detect immune activation.
Rice University bioengineer Michael King joins the Texas Cancer Institute's AI advisory panel to explore AI's potential in cancer research and prevention. The panel aims to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI in biomedical research, with King's expertise in cancer bioengineering playing a key role.
Researchers have developed a nondestructive imaging technique to measure single-cell immune metabolism in real patient blood samples, providing a higher level of information than current clinical techniques. This breakthrough could improve disease diagnosis and treatment for conditions like blood cancers, lupus, and sepsis.
Researchers have identified a subset of B cells known as atypical memory cells as the primary precursors of autoantibody-producing cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection. These cells adopt a markedly different biological program, leading to increased autoantibody production. The study provides new insight into how viral infections can trigg...
Researchers at Boston Medical Center and Boston University have developed a scalable method for generating CD4+ helper T cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), overcoming a longstanding challenge in the development of stem cell-based immunotherapies. This breakthrough could help advance efforts to create off-the-shelf CAR-T...
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have developed a vaccine that uses T cells to fight Zika virus, but one vaccine, with both antibody and T cell protection, showed long-term protection against the virus. This discovery offers a new hope in the fight against Zika and its close viral relatives.
UCSF scientists have invented a way to treat cancer with teacher cells and tumor pieces, combining immune cells grown in the lab with patient tumor samples. The method uses dendritic cells to train T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells, offering a promising approach to immunotherapy.
A new study from Arizona State University finds that past immune encounters can predict future vaccine response, opening a path toward more personalized vaccination strategies. Researchers analyzed blood samples from over 4,000 people, identifying antibody signatures that distinguish strong responders from weak ones.
Researchers have discovered a gene linked to Parkinson's disease may also strengthen the body's ability to fight dangerous infections. The study found that a well-studied mutation in the LRRK2 gene increases the production of reactive oxygen species, making immune cells more effective at eliminating intracellular bacteria.
Research at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center has identified biomarkers to identify patients with resectable NSCLC who benefit most from perioperative immunotherapy. The center also found that the composition of donor cord blood may influence CAR NK cell therapy outcomes.
Dysregulated neutrophils may play a key role in persistent low-grade inflammation seen in chronic coronary syndrome. Researchers found that neutrophils from patients with stable coronary artery disease do not die as they should, persisting and remaining highly active.
Researchers have identified a naturally occurring gut molecule that strengthens chickens' immune response against bacterial infections. The compound, sodium butyrate, reprograms chicken immune cells to fight diseases without causing inflammation.
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes and UCSF discovered a pair of genetic edits that make CAR-T cells more effective against solid tumors. The new CRISPR screening platform enables the study of gene edits on CAR-T cells inside living mice, uncovering therapeutic targets previously missed in conventional cell culture systems.
A study by King's College London has identified two types of white blood cells linked to survival outcomes for patients with melanoma. Effective immunotherapy treatment is associated with efficient B and T cell responses, while immature or poorly functioning B cell populations predict poorer outcomes.
Researchers identified a protective subtype of microglia that expands as Alzheimer's disease progresses, playing a key role in clearing harmful material from the brain. The study provides insights into how the brain's immune cells change across the lifespan and throughout Alzheimer's disease, paving the way for therapies that strengthe...
Researchers at UC San Diego identified a key cellular pathway that drives brain degeneration in both Sanfilippo syndrome type A and Alzheimer's disease. The study reveals how the brain's immune cells respond to waste buildup, providing a novel target for drug development.
Researchers found that dexamethasone reduces infection-driven macrophage metabolic activity and lowers inflammatory signals, preserving the immune system's ability to control the infection. This study suggests a new approach for managing nontuberculous mycobacterial disease.
Cancer cells' ability to evade the immune system is linked to changes in their surrounding environment, including nearby nutrients and conditions. Researchers discovered that altering these factors can thin the cancer cell's protective sugar coating, allowing the immune system to recognize and eliminate them.
A study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle reveals that deleting transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) from macrophages enhances muscle regeneration and mitochondrial function. The research found that this approach protected against obesity-related muscle wasting and improved exercise performance.
Researchers discovered how breast tumors recruit immune cells to attract nerves that support tumor growth and treatment resistance. Blocking nerve growth may boost the immune response to fight cancer.
Researchers found that female mice's microglia form prolonged contacts with neurons during recovery, leading to synaptic remodeling and plasticity. This phenomenon was not observed in male mice, highlighting differences in brain recovery processes between sexes.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have made significant progress in understanding the causes of long COVID, focusing on changes in virus-specific immune cells. Specifically, they found that people with long COVID have distinctive changes in CD8 T cells, which are specialized to protect against specific viruses.
The Alliance QUANTUM trial is testing whether post-transplant consolidation therapy with teclistamab improves survival in patients with primary plasma cell leukemia. Plasma cell leukemia is a rare but aggressive blood cancer with poor long-term survival rates.
Researchers at Tulane University discovered that vesper bats have two distinct copies of genes producing antibodies, which helps them recognize and fight infections. This finding opens up new areas of study on the evolution of immunity and how animals respond to diseases.
A recent study found that human lung tissue contains a vast reservoir of tissue-resident memory T cells (T RM cells) capable of targeting a range of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. These cells reside only in the lungs and can live for years, providing a vital line of defense against severe respiratory infections.
A research team led by Iowa State University's Raquel Espin Palazon identified two essential components — a pervasive protein and a crucial cellular signaling pathway — needed to make some types of blood cells. Adding these components to leukemia cells could potentially lead to new treatment options.
Researchers have identified a new strategy to prevent T cell exhaustion and boost immunotherapy by blocking MEK signaling. This approach has shown promise in lab models, enabling T cells to persist under harsh tumor conditions. However, the effectiveness of this treatment may vary among patients due to the complexity of T cell exhaustion.
The University of Minnesota Medical School research team has received a $10 million NIH grant to study how animals fight infection. The team will utilize a 'cellular zoo' of living cells from over 100 animal species to understand how different species recognize and respond to viral infections.
Researchers developed a new way to uncover differences in how viruses infect and destroy individual microbial cells. The study used a mathematical modeling framework to analyze infection outcomes in individual cells, revealing striking accuracy and new insights into viral behavior.
Scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which T cells attack and eliminate acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. The discovery reveals that AML cells use a CD64-dependent pathway to evade traditional MHC recognition, potentially explaining why AML is sensitive to immune-based treatments.
Researchers created a comprehensive single-cell map of the tumor immune microenvironment in multiple myeloma and its precursor conditions. The study identified five distinct subtypes, or 'ecotypes,' that capture meaningful insights into signaling pathways and genetic programs not fully explained by disease stage alone.
A new study reveals that macrophages, a key immune cell type, age differently across tissues and between sexes. The researchers found that aging macrophages become more focused on responding to stress and cellular damage, but lose some molecular programs involved in maintaining healthy tissue structure.
A new method called ATTACH identifies strong interactions between T cells and cancer-specific proteins to isolate effective tumor-reactive T cells. This approach overcomes key challenges in immunotherapy development, offering a rapid and accessible way for isolating rare immune cells.
The new journal features cutting-edge research across basic, clinical, and translational immunology. It is designed to connect researchers across the full breadth of immunology, deepening understanding of the immune system in health and disease.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Scripps Research have developed an HIV vaccine that trains immune cells to see past HIV's defenses. The vaccine resulted in the best HIV-fighting antibody response ever seen in primates, with human trials now underway.
Researchers have discovered that immune cells, specifically neutrophils, use neurotransmitters like dopamine and adrenaline to communicate in real-time. This finding has significant implications for understanding the regulation of the immune system.
Researchers found that a single parameter in the differential blood count can identify at-risk patients on hospital admission following a heart attack. Immature immune cells, specifically preneutrophils, significantly increase short-term risk of death.
A UMD-led study reveals that wild bats balance different types of immune defenses based on sex, age, and competition for mates. The researchers found that male bats rely more on rapid-response immune defenses, while females invest in targeted responses to pathogens.
Researchers identified a previously unrecognized immune system pathway that connects cigarette smoking to cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoke activates immune cells, triggering widespread inflammation throughout the body and accelerating plaque buildup in arteries.
Researchers have discovered a completely unknown type of immune cell, named ruptoblasts, which rewrite our understanding of the immune system. These cells act like cellular grenades, releasing powerful killing agents to destroy pathogens and prevent infection.
A team of researchers has identified a previously unknown vulnerability in KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer cells, making them susceptible to necroptosis. Blocking the tumor cells' defense mechanism by inhibiting caspase-8 leads to significant cell death and reduced tumor growth.
Researchers have made major steps toward solving the mystery of how brain aneurysms form by identifying key cell types and genetic pathways involved. The study's findings provide new insights into a clinical paradox: smaller aneurysms can still rupture, and offer opportunities for early intervention to prevent ruptures.
Researchers have discovered a previously underappreciated mechanism that helps immune cells respond rapidly to infections by altering RNA splicing. This study provides new insights into immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and may lead to more targeted therapies.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that 'cross-reactive' T cells can recognize multiple species of paramyxovirus, including measles and Nipah viruses. This broad protection is essential in combating emerging diseases with unknown viral strains.
Activated memory B cells can recognize and target ovarian cancer cells, producing effective antibodies. The discovery advances the development of vaccines and therapies based on immune memory against cancer.
Researchers discovered that immune cells in a pigeon's liver can sense the Earth's magnetic field, providing an internal compass. This discovery sheds light on how birds navigate long distances and could have implications for other animals and humans.
Researchers found that obesity alters the biological changes in breast cancer cells, enabling them to survive and thrive. The study's findings could improve prediction and treatment of invasive breast cancer, reducing overtreatment and unnecessary treatments.