Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Professor Dong Zhang’s team at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital reveals a new mechanism underlying the potent anti-tumor activity of TCRαβ+CD4-CD8- double-negative T cells

Research by Professor Dong Zhang's team identifies IFITM1 as a key regulator of mitophagy, essential for maintaining the anti-tumor activity of double-negative T cells. This mechanism provides a promising strategy for optimizing TCRαβ+CD4-CD8- T cell therapies.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·DateSep 22, 2026

How rituximab affects T cells in kidney disease

Researchers found that rituximab treatment increases mitochondrial energy production and reduces cell stress in T cells, leading to improved response rates in patients with nephrotic syndrome. This discovery could help predict patient response to treatment and identify suitable candidates for early remission.

SourceNagoya University·JournaliScience·TypeObservational study·DateSep 10, 2026

Immune remodeling in extreme old age: how supercentenarians reshape their immune system

Researchers from the University of Osaka have found a rare type of immune cell that expands in supercentenarians, potentially helping protect against cancer and other age-related threats. The cells, known as CD4 CTLs, have been shown to be highly active and may help the body cope with persistent threats that increase with age.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalCell Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2026

Physical exercise could help modulate the immune response in type 1 diabetes

A review published in Diabetes Care suggests that physical exercise could play a role in promoting immune regulation, preserving beta-cell function, and reducing inflammation in type 1 diabetes. The evidence highlights the potential benefits of exercise on immune profiles displaying anti-inflammatory characteristics.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalDiabetes Care·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 23, 2026

The 700-million-year history of our blood cells

A team of researchers at Kyoto University has reconstructed the family tree of blood cells over a 700-million-year span, revealing their evolutionary history. They found that early blood cells emerged around the same time as multicellular animals and were macrophage-like.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 25, 2026

We can help the body fight entire viral families

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that combining key vaccine ingredients could give the body the tools it needs to fight the entire family of arenaviruses with a single vaccine. This approach may protect against life-threatening infections from Lassa virus, Junin virus, and many other arenaviruses.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2026

Immune cells link lactation to long-lasting health

Recent studies show that T cells support milk production and have lasting effects on maternal health and infant immunity. The review highlights emerging evidence of the crucial role of immune cells in lactation, which can inform strategies to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Immunology·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 26, 2026

Gut microbe–derived butyrate activates immune cells to enhance vaccine efficacy

A study published in Microbiome found that gut microbiome-derived butyrate activates immune cells to enhance vaccine efficacy by promoting T follicular helper (Tfh) cell activity and mucosal antibody production. This discovery highlights the crucial role of gut environment regulation in controlling infections and enhancing vaccine resp...

Inflammation and autoimmune-like dysfunction may play a role in heart failure

A recent study from Penn State College of Medicine researchers found that helper T cells, typically involved in fighting infections, become overly activated in failing human hearts, causing damage. The activation of these T cells highlights the impact of inflammation and immune dysfunction in heart failure.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 27, 2026

Discrimination linked to diminished immune system function

Researchers found that people experiencing everyday discrimination have elevated levels of "exhausted" white blood cells, indicating chronic stress may hamper the immune system. This study suggests social experiences like discrimination shape immune health at the cellular level and contribute to biological aging.

SourceNew York University·JournalBrain Behavior & Immunity - Health·DateJan 26, 2026

Decoding the T-cell burst: Signature genes that predict T-cell expansion in cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science identified genes that predict CD8+ T cell expansion in cancer immunotherapy. A 'signature gene set' or 'expansion signature' was found to identify primed T cells for growth, predicting treatment response and offering a potential guide for new therapies.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 21, 2025

Moffitt study finds lymphoma accelerates aging of immune cells and tissues

A new study reveals that lymphoma can accelerate the biological aging of the immune system and other tissues, leading to increased inflammation, impaired protein balance, and altered iron regulation. The effects were not limited to immune cells, with markers of aging also appearing in blood vessels, kidneys, and intestines.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Cell·TypeObservational study·DateAug 22, 2025

The hidden science of allergy shots

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology investigate the fundamentals of allergy immunotherapies by examining T cells in children with cockroach allergies, finding that dosage and underlying response don't affect treatment efficacy.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2025

Transforming immunotherapy design

Assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering Natasa Miskov-Zivanov is receiving a $581,503 NSF CAREER Award for her project that leverages AI to design more effective lymphocytes for cancer immunotherapies. The system aims to accelerate the process of designing new therapeutic cell designs.

Vaccines of the future: harnessing the immune system for long-lasting protection

Scientists have discovered a novel way to enhance the effectiveness of vaccines by boosting stem cell-like memory CD8+ T cells, which can provide decades-long immunity. The study uses mRNA vaccine technology to increase the formation of these cells, offering a promising solution for viruses and cancer therapies.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 7, 2025

New findings on T cell exhaustion: The body prepares early for mild to severe disease

A recent study by researchers at TUM has discovered that the body produces special T cells predisposed to exhaustion even in early infection phases of moderate diseases. This finding expands our understanding of immune response mechanisms and could help control the immune system in cancer patients or weaken excessive defenses.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2025

Researchers find intestinal immune cell prevents food allergies

A recent study published in Cell revealed that a specific intestinal immune cell prevents food allergies by breaking the threshold between friend and foe in the gut. Researchers at WashU Medicine identified this cell as RORγt+ dendritic cells, which maintain tolerance to harmless food allergens, preventing allergic reactions.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 3, 2025

Protein in the nose provides information about COPD

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new method to diagnose COPD by analyzing protein levels in nasal lavage. The study found that elevated IL-26 levels can indicate an early phase of the disease, and may lead to new treatment strategies targeting this cytokine.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2025