Articles tagged with Immune System
Scientists have identified a number of genes involved in Lupus, a complex condition that frequently causes skin rash, joint pains and malaise. The study found associations with ITGAM, PXK, KIAA1542, LYN, and BLK genes, which may lead to new therapies for the disease.
A study led by UAB researchers found that blocking interleukin 17 (IL-17) slows disease-causing B cell actions in autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. This discovery highlights IL-17's role in shaping B cells' ability to create more antibodies.
Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered a mechanism that prevents the immune system from regulating itself properly, leading to allergic reactions. The new finding highlights the importance of regulatory T-cells in maintaining immune tolerance.
A recent study suggests that sugar-based markers on human sperm cells could provide insights into how some cancers evade the immune system. These markers, found on N-glycans and recognized by all human immune systems, may be universally used by cancer cells to avoid destruction.
New research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that shingles and its complications may have a greater impact on healthy adults than previously thought. The study found that shingles affects at least 1 in every 278 adults each year, with post-herpetic neuralgia being the most common complication, especially among older adults.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has identified the pathways that lead to the production of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), a major anti-inflammatory factor. Modulating messenger molecules like IL-27 and IL-6 could increase IL-10 concentrations, tempering overactive immune responses.
Research finds that elite rowers show a significant reduction in lactoferrin concentration after five months of sedentary lifestyle, but experience an increase in salivary proteins following moderate and high-intensity exercise. This study aims to test the effectiveness of nutritional interventions on the immune system.
A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health found that premenopausal women with mild depression have lower bone mass than their nondepressed peers. Bone thinning was especially prevalent in hip bones, increasing the risk of fractures and other costly injuries as they age.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have successfully transplanted new blood-forming stem cells into the bone marrow of mice, effectively replacing their immune systems. This technique could potentially treat autoimmune and genetic blood diseases by introducing a healthy immune system.
Scientists discovered that regulatory T cells can reverse macrophages' role in causing inflammation, allowing tumors to go undetected by the body's natural defenses. This knowledge may lead to new treatments for tumors and could also be applied to block chronic inflammation in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers have discovered that the immune system can enter a dormant state with cancer cells, controlling their growth without eliminating them. This finding may lead to alternative treatments for cancer, such as using immunotherapy to induce equilibrium and convert cancers into chronic but controllable diseases.
Researchers found that cowpox and monkeypox viruses can prevent the immune system from detecting infected cells, a strategy that could aid in vaccine design. The discovery may help create more effective vaccines against poxviruses and other viruses.
Researchers at UBC discover a process called chromatin remodeling that allows certain cancer cells to hide from the immune system by altering the structure of chromosomes. This 'instruction manual' enables cancer cells to evade detection and grow unchecked, but the discovery may lead to new therapies within five to 10 years.
Researchers at the University of Georgia Cancer Center have synthesized a carbohydrate-based vaccine that successfully triggered a strong immune response to cancer cells in mice. The vaccine has shown promise in creating an antibody response that can kill cultured epithelial cells and stimulating an immune response in healthy mice.
Researchers have found that the vagus nerve directly communicates with the immune system, controlling inflammation. This discovery is leading to novel treatments for diseases such as sepsis and autoimmune conditions.
Scientists at Duke University Medical Center discovered how gold eases pain of arthritis by blocking release of HMGB1 from the nucleus, weakening inflammatory response. Gold inhibits HMGB1 release using interferon beta and nitric oxide, a promising mechanism for new treatments.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch developed an innovative artificial immune system that mimics the human body's response to disease. This technology will enable rapid screening of vaccine and therapeutic compounds, potentially saving millions in R&D costs.
A common model of immune responses will improve understanding by providing a shared language among scientists. The Immunology Imaging and Modelling Network's theoretical and computational model will help track parasites and cells in real-time, measuring interactions between immune system components.
Research suggests the appendix serves as a reservoir for beneficial bacteria, protecting them from harm and allowing them to repopulate the gut after diarrhea. This discovery challenges the long-held view of the appendix's uselessness.
Researchers have identified the specific gene implicated in Job's syndrome, a rare immunodeficiency disorder characterized by harmful bacterial and fungal infections. The discovery could benefit treatment for other immunodeficiency diseases and provide new leads for therapies.
Researchers at UCLA identified a distinct pattern of gene expression in immune cells from chronically lonely individuals. This finding suggests that social isolation affects the activity of genes driving inflammation and may provide a molecular framework for understanding its link to heart disease, viral infections, and cancer.
Immunology researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have successfully halted a lethal rabies infection in mice by opening the central nervous system's protective blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough could lead to improved treatment for late-stage rabies infections in humans, and may also shed light on other neurological diseases.
New clues from immune system molecules hold hope for overcoming antibiotic resistance, with shared structural and functional characteristics enabling these molecules to inhibit or kill microbial pathogens.
Research published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation shows that tumors use the enzyme IDO to directly activate existing regulatory T cells, which become strongly suppressive within a day. This discovery defines a tumor's survival strategy and suggests potential new leverage points for therapies.
VIB researchers have discovered that oral intake of allergens via the lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis can treat various autoimmune and allergic disorders. This innovative strategy, patented by VIB, is being developed into biopharmaceutical medicines by ActoGeniX.
Scientists have identified a specific pathway, reactive-oxygen species (ROS), that allows cancer cells to evade the immune system. By targeting this pathway, researchers hope to develop new therapies that can break through the 'escape hatch' and accelerate or slow down T-cell activity.
HIV's uniformly fatal outcome and absence of natural immunity pose significant hurdles for vaccine design. The authors call for increased funding for research and clinical trials to address these challenges and accelerate progress in finding an effective AIDS vaccine.
A new $3.5 million program aims to train the immune system to detect and destroy cancerous tumors. Researchers will develop vaccines, enhance immune responses, and create imaging technologies to monitor the treatment's effectiveness.
A new vaccine has been developed to prevent hCMV infection and disease in mice, showing promise for human use. The vaccine generates an immune response that protects against both infection and disease by disarming the virus's ability to replicate.
A team of scientists has identified over 350 immune system genes in the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits deadly diseases like yellow fever and dengue. Understanding these genes' role in virus transmission could lead to new ways of combating these diseases by enhancing the mosquito's immune response.
Researchers compared genes involved in insects' immunity and their ability to spread disease, gaining insights into halting the transmission of diseases like malaria. By analyzing gene sequences with computers, scientists identified key genes to study, paving the way for new experimental research.
Researchers at the University of Mainz have developed a novel approach to create antitumor vaccines by attaching tumor-associated glycopeptide antigens to a carrier protein via an immunocompatible thioether linkage. This method shows promise for inducing an immune response against cancer cells without irritating the immune system.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center have discovered a novel anti-inflammatory cell signaling pathway that may serve as a vital Yin-Yang mechanism to maintain the delicate balance of immune response. This discovery may lead to new ways to fight cancer and inflammatory diseases.
A study found that green tea compound epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits production of inflammatory molecules involved in joint damage. EGCG also blocks the production of interleukin-6 and prostaglandin E2, reducing inflammation in joints.
A microRNA in mouse immune cells is shown to balance the response of immune defenses, with its equivalent human gene playing a vital role. Knockout mice develop autoimmune symptoms and are less resistant to bacterial infections, highlighting the importance of this microRNA in the immune system.
A new pancreatic cancer vaccine has successfully stalled disease progression in a handful of patients three years post-vaccination, offering new insights into how the vaccine could be made more effective. The study found that the vaccine triggered an active immune response and slowed down cancer growth in four patients.
New cancer vaccine studies are making progress in developing vaccines that can attack cancerous cells by stimulating the immune system. Researchers have found that a human papillomavirus vaccine continues to protect against HPV types 16 and 18, as well as other related viruses, with significant cross-protection.
Researchers have discovered that bacteria can enter immune system cells through a pore in the cell membrane, triggering an immune response without activating Toll-like receptors. This finding offers new perspectives for developing human vaccines and drugs that target inflammatory responses in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Scientists have identified a key gene, LaeA, that governs the mold's ability to produce toxic compounds. The discovery opens new avenues for treating Aspergillus fumigatus infection, which has a 60-90% mortality rate in immunocompromised individuals.
Interferon gamma and interleukin-1 alpha molecules work together, collaborating like two halves of a key, to initiate various immune responses. This unexpected collaboration enhances the antiviral activity of interferon gamma, providing an extra layer of security for the body.
A key protein called Mal alerts the immune system to respond against invading bacteria, and research has found two variants that determine how the immune system responds. The findings suggest possible new treatments for malaria and TB, as well as insights into autoimmune diseases.
Researchers compared the immune responses of animals infected with 1918 and H5N1 influenza viruses, finding similar yet distinct reactions. The study aims to better understand how these viruses cause disease and develop new treatments.
Health Canada has approved COLD-fX as a preventative measure to boost the immune system, reducing frequency and severity of cold and flu symptoms. The product's safety profile is confirmed, with no known side effects or drug interactions for healthy individuals.
Researchers at Oncolytics Biotech have developed a harmless virus that not only kills tumor cells but also primes the immune system to mount a powerful defense against cancer. Studies have shown that reovirus exposure can activate dendritic cells, which then educate natural killer cells and T cells to attack the tumor.
Researchers have discovered a protein, GAPDH, that allows group B streptococci to colonize and cause infection in newborns. The protein modulates the immune system, increasing the risk of invasive bacterial infection.
An international EU project led by the University of Bonn aims to shed light on why the immune system weakens with age, particularly in elderly people. The researchers will analyze up to 40,000 blood samples to develop new medicines that can largely inactivate viruses and enable the immune system to deal with residual viruses.
Researchers discovered a new protein, Carabin, that acts as an internal brake to limit the immune system's response, preventing excessive inflammation. This discovery may have potential applications in stopping unwanted immune reactions, such as organ rejection.
A study published in Nature Immunology reveals that lymph node cells instruct immune system cells to leave healthy tissue alone, protecting the small intestine from attack. This finding may lead to new forms of treatment for autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
A team of University of Iowa researchers has made significant progress in understanding how the deadly Francisella tularensis bacterium evades the human immune system. The study found that the bacteria can inhibit the ability of white blood cells called neutrophils to kill it, allowing it to replicate and cause harm.
Researchers found that manipulating proteins in the immune system could lead to new treatments for asthma, which shares similarities with parasitic infections. The study's findings suggest that targeting specific cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13, may help prevent lung damage in asthmatic patients.
A new study found that the loss of PTEN function in glioma cells leads to high levels of B7-H1 expression, making it harder for T-cells to kill cancer cells. This discovery may have implications beyond brain tumors and could affect the effectiveness of emerging therapies.
Scientists have developed a model of the phagosome using systems biology approach, facilitating study of its function and interactions. The model may lead to better understanding of infectious disease processes and development of new strategies to fight pathogens.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine discover that sildenafil and other erectile dysfunction drugs can unmask cancer cells, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack them. The study found that these drugs reduce tumor size in mice with colon and breast tumors by increasing nitric oxide levels.
A study in mice with type 1 diabetes shows that an initial immune response to proinsulin triggers the attack on other proteins, leading to disease development. The findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for preventing this spreading response.
The Baylor Research Institute has received a $6.2 million grant to establish a Center for Lupus Research, which will focus on understanding the immune system's role in lupus. The center aims to identify how lupus alters cells of the immune system, leading to abnormal protein levels and disease activity.
New research suggests that beta-agonist medications used in asthma treatment can increase type 2 T cell accumulation, potentially worsening related diseases. The study's findings highlight the need for anti-inflammatory corticosteroids in moderate to severe asthma treatment.
Researchers developed a vaccine that stimulates colorectal cancer patients' immune systems to fight cancerous cells, with 70% of patients producing TNF-alpha and GM-CSF in response. The vaccine works by generating infection-fighting white blood cells called T cells, which destroy cancer cells.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that immune system cells recruited from the body can cause muscle dysfunction leading to certain forms of heart failure. Treatment with serum amyloid P prevented the production of these fibroblasts and resulting fibrosis.
Researchers found that specific HLA Class I/HIV viral fragment combinations are associated with a more powerful antiviral response. The study suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in determining how well an individual's immune system controls HIV during early infection.
A novel combination therapy has been developed to prevent three common viruses – cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and adenovirus – in transplant patients. The treatment, called Trivirus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), proved effective and safe in a phase 1 trial, reducing the risk of death from these infections.