Researchers at the La Jolla Institute discovered that T cells contribute to host protection against dengue virus infection, contradicting current scientific understanding. This finding may lead to a new approach in dengue vaccine design, potentially improving its effectiveness against the deadly disease.
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that the month of birth affects immune system development and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in UK babies. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in May-born babies compared to November-born babies, while autoreactive T-cells were higher.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia report complete remission in two pediatric ALL patients treated with novel cell therapy. The treatment, known as CTL019, uses engineered T cells that target a specific protein on the surface of leukemia cells, achieving a potent anticancer effect.
Researchers have successfully rejuvenated the blood of mice by reprogramming their stem cells, reversing epigenetic changes that occur with age. This breakthrough could potentially lead to new treatments for diseases such as leukemia, where cancer often originates in older, damaged bone marrow.
A novel T-cell therapy has demonstrated complete remission in two pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a high-risk type of cancer. The treatment, which reprograms the immune cells to target specific cancer cells, has shown promising results but also carries potential side effects.
Researchers characterized how the functionality of genetically engineered T cells administered therapeutically to patients with melanoma changed over time. A new population of T cells emerged at around one month that exhibited tumor-killing characteristics through epitope spreading, suggesting a potential cause for the transient response.
A new influenza vaccine approach uses two-pronged immune cell strategy to elicit robust protective immunity. The research suggests that combining CD8+ T cells and non-neutralizing antibodies could provide universal flu vaccine capable of long-lasting protection.
Scientists have discovered how influenza viruses evade T cell immunity, enabling researchers to design vaccines targeting distinct virus strains for universal protection. This breakthrough may lead to the development of a new universal influenza vaccine to combat both seasonal and pandemic outbreaks.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified 25 human proteins that may be critical to HIV-1's ability to infect new cells. These proteins are found in viruses from two different types of infected cells, providing a potential target for diagnosis and treatment.
A new study suggests that high levels of attachment anxiety in married couples can compromise their immune systems, leading to higher cortisol levels and fewer T cells. This chronic stressor may be related to inconsistent care during infancy, but it is also possible for individuals with attachment anxiety to change.
Researchers have identified a key protein, IFITM3, in T-cells that provides resistance to influenza. Increasing the production of these resistant T-cells could lead to longer-lasting immunity.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have engineered key immune cells to resist HIV infection by inactivating a receptor gene and inserting additional anti-HIV genes. The new approach, known as 'stacking,' provides multiple layers of protection against the virus and could potentially replace drug treatment.
Researchers found that starting antiretroviral therapy within four months of estimated HIV-1 infection significantly improves restoration of CD4+ T-cell counts. The study used data from 468 patients followed in the San Diego Primary Infection Cohort, and recovery rates were observed to be higher for those initiating therapy early.
Researchers develop method to reprogram T-cells involved in autoimmune diseases by attaching pancreatic protein to red blood cells, eliminating symptoms of type I diabetes in mice. The approach aims to minimize risks and side effects while targeting specific immune cells involved in the disease.
Researchers at Duke Medicine have developed an artificial protein that stimulates the body's natural immune system to fight cancer. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the therapy was shown to cure brain tumors in six out of eight mice, with no harm to surrounding normal tissue.
Researchers have developed a new technique to create targeted immunotherapies for cancer, recognizing antigens on cancer cells that are not found on healthy cells. The approach uses chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and costimulatory receptors (CCRs), allowing T cells to attack specific types of cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that immune cells from older adults can respond to virus infections similarly to those from younger individuals. This discovery has important implications for vaccination strategies targeting the elderly.
A recent study from Queen Mary University of London has identified two proteins, Egr2 and Egr3, as crucial regulators of the immune response. In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), T lymphocytes show defective production of these proteins, leading to increased inflammation.
Researchers report success of gene transfer therapy to turn patients' immune cells into cancer-fighting weapons. Three patients remain in full remission over two years after treatment, marking first successful demonstration of the approach.
T-cells use protein signals to communicate with each other, with specific patterns and squishiness preferred. The discovery may help improve T-cell activation for immunotherapy and cancer treatment.
A study published in The Journal of Cell Biology identifies a motor protein that helps HIV replicate in macrophages. KIF3A drives the virus along microtubules, facilitating its release from these cells. Inhibiting KIF3A may provide a new strategy for combating HIV.
Scientists have visualised the interaction between gluten and T-cells of the immune system, providing insight into how coeliac disease is triggered. The discovery could lead to a blood test and therapeutic vaccine for patients with coeliac disease.
A small pilot study suggests that exercising cancer survivors for several weeks after chemotherapy can strengthen their immune systems, making them more effective at fighting future cancers. The study found that a significant portion of T cells converted from a senescent form to a naïve form, ready to fight cancer and infections.
Assistant Professor Navin Varadarajan will use a novel research tool to study individual CAR T cells and determine their properties relating to their ability to fight cancer. The goal is to identify which modified T cells are most effective at fighting cancer, allowing researchers to design better treatment regimens.
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a gene-based therapy that specifically targets the immune response of myasthenia gravis, erasing the need for systemic immunosuppression. The technique uses genetically engineered dendritic cells to destroy faulty T-cells, reducing autoantibodies and halting the autoimmune attack.
Scientists have reduced graft-versus-host disease, a life-threatening complication of stem cell transplants, by altering the circulation and trafficking of donor T-cells. The new approach maintains the therapeutic anti-leukemia effect while minimizing harm to healthy tissues.
Researchers at Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine discovered UCP2's primary expression in immune cells, with increased levels during T-cell proliferation. This finding may have significant implications for the development of treatments for immune disorders.
Researchers discovered a key interaction between skin cells and gamma delta T cells, revealing a molecular trigger for wound healing. The CD100 receptor plays a crucial role in signaling the activation of these immune cells, which then stimulate new epithelial cell production to repair damaged tissues.
Researchers have identified Lyl-1 as a crucial transcription factor in producing early T-cell progenitors, which are the first cells on the path to becoming active T-cells. Without Lyl-1, these cells are severely impaired, and mice lacking the gene exhibit T-cell deficiency and leukemia-like symptoms.
Researchers have identified MDA5 as a key molecule essential for producing interferon to rally virus-fighting cells during certain viral infections. The timing and balance of interferon production are critical in determining the outcome of a viral infection, with prolonged production increasing the risk of autoimmune damage.
A £425,000 study at Queen's University Belfast aims to discover how the immune system supports tissue repair in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The research seeks to understand how ageing affects this process and potentially lead to new treatments for MS.
Researchers discovered that T cells employ a Lévy walk strategy, characterized by short and long movements, to track down parasites like animal predators. This insight into immune-cell movement patterns can inform novel approaches to combat diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS.
A Mayo Clinic study has found that exhaustion affects immune cells fighting cancer, rendering them less effective. The research suggests a new approach to lymphoma and other cancers by dampening cell-signaling molecules like IL-12.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania report that genetically modified T cells remain healthy up to 11 years after initial therapy in a decade-long study of HIV patients. The approach provides a framework for gene therapy as a powerful weapon in treating HIV, cancer, and other diseases.
A new biostatistical tool, prediction-based classification (PBC), can help allocate resources to patients who need them most by linking CD-4 T-cell levels to other patient data. The study found that PBC could reduce the number of CD-4 tests needed during the first year of ART by nearly 57 percent.
Researchers have identified microRNA-155 as a molecule that controls the severity of acute graft-versus-host disease in leukemia patients who receive bone-marrow transplants. Reducing or blocking miR-155 expression decreases GVHD severity and increases survival, suggesting a new strategy for treating the condition.
Scientists discovered an effective way to eliminate a persistent form of HIV-1 through vaccination strategy. The research found that heightened immune response prior to virus reactivation facilitates the elimination of latent viral reservoir, paving the way for true eradication.
Researchers found that blocking PD-1 molecule after antiretroviral therapy interruption can significantly enhance viral control in SIV-infected monkeys. The effect depends on maintaining measurable immune cell response following therapy.
Researchers found that removing Bim allowed autoreactive T-cells to survive but remain inactive. Understanding this mechanism could lead to new therapies for autoimmune diseases like diabetes.
Researchers found that autoreactive T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes bound their targets more weakly than helpful T cells. These autoaggressive T cells may slip through safety screens by failing to notice their targets, suggesting a new mechanism for autoimmune disease progression.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute identified specific T cells that trigger type 1 diabetes in humans for the first time in human tissues. The study provides a crucial step in interrupting the disease process and highlights CD8 T cells as key players.
Researchers have identified a protein that contributes to brain tumor resistance to chemotherapy, while also developing a way to predict which liver transplant patients can be weaned off immunosuppressive drugs. High levels of APNG in GBM cells correlated with poorer survival rates, suggesting it may serve as a biomarker for treatment ...
Researchers at La Jolla Institute create cellular movies showing the destruction underlying type 1 diabetes in real-time, providing new insights into disease process and potential therapeutic directions. The studies use two-photon microscope to illuminate cell processes previously extrapolated from photos or lab experiments.
A study published in Blood has identified a potential marker, PD-1, that is more frequently found in young leukemia patients who experience relapses. This discovery could lead to the development of simple tests to predict relapse, reducing the risk for these vulnerable individuals.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute have identified a previously unknown molecular interaction between protein kinase C theta and CD28 that is essential for T lymphocyte activation. This discovery opens up a novel therapeutic avenue for autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis by blocking the cellular inter...
A glucosamine-like dietary supplement, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), suppresses multiple sclerosis attacks by inhibiting abnormal T-cell growth and function. The study, published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, suggests a novel mechanism for affecting T-cell function and autoimmunity.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered that blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor can prevent rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, a rare and debilitating kidney disease. The study also showed that certain drugs inhibiting EGF receptors may reverse the harmful effects of the disease.
A study reveals that tumors can disable the T cell–attracting protein CCL2 by modifying it with reactive nitrogen species, keeping T cells out. Scientists are now developing RNS-blocking drugs to restore T cell function and potentially enhance cancer treatment.
A group of mutations in the interleukin-7 receptor gene have been identified in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation. Researchers found that certain pharmaceutical drugs already in clinical use can eliminate these cells, providing a potential therapeutic approach against leukemia.
A clinical trial at the Kimmel Cancer Center found a two-step, half-match bone marrow transplant procedure improves overall survival in blood cancer patients, with 45% and 75% five-year survival rates. The unique approach controls donor T cell dosage and timing to minimize side effects.
Researchers at Caltech propose that cell-to-cell transmission of HIV is responsible for the formation of viral reservoirs. This mechanism allows HIV to persist in infected cells despite antiretroviral therapy.
Researchers developed second-generation engineered T cells that successfully target and kill ovarian cancer cells in immune-deficient mice. The new technology overcomes limitations of first-generation approaches, showing improved persistence and survival signals for the engineered T cells.
Researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine have discovered that a select few T cells can better protect against infections like flu due to special features. The study suggests targeting these cells through vaccination could improve protection against disease in older adults.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have developed a new form of adoptive cell transfer that overcomes limitations of current therapies. This approach uses a donor pool of immune T cells prepared in advance, which are outfitted with receptors to specifically target and destroy tumors.
A new discovery has been made in the fight against plague and bacterial pneumonias by researchers at the Trudeau Institute. They have identified a single component of the plague causing bacterium that can be used as a vaccine, offering a potential safer alternative to existing vaccines.
Researchers have used a super-resolution fluorescence microscope to image T-cell molecules and identify the exact molecular switch that spurs T-cells into action. This breakthrough could lead to treatments for auto-immune diseases and cancer, overturning prevailing understanding of T-cell activation.
An experimental gene therapy has reversed type 1 diabetes in mice with a nearly 80 percent success rate, reversing autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. The treatment uses neurogenin3 and betacellulin to stimulate new islet growth and inhibits immune system activity.
A new experimental drug, PCI-32765, has shown promising results in selectively targeting and killing malignant B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. By inhibiting key signaling molecules and promoting apoptosis, the agent reduces the risk of life-threatening infections associated with current CLL therapies.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a critical molecule that, when absent in T-cells, can cause autoimmunity. This finding has significant implications for stem-cell transplantation treatments used for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Cancer cells that reign during leukemia relapses have distinct DNA profiles compared to those at diagnosis. These mutated cells exhibit aggressive behavior in mice, suggesting a possible link between human and mouse models.