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Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet challenge the hygiene hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures have a similar ability to develop allergic immune responses as laboratory mice. Despite this, they developed strong signs of pathological inflammation and allergic responses when exposed to allergens.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalScience Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2023

Expanding the impact of CAR T cell therapy: An immunotherapy strategy against all blood cancers

Researchers developed a new strategy to target CD45, a surface marker found on nearly all blood cells, using CRISPR base-editing. This approach aims to overcome challenges in CAR T cell therapy, which currently targets specific cancer types, and could expand treatment options for virtually all blood cancers.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 31, 2023

Inside job: Finding exposes unexpected killer of immune cells lacking self marker

Dendritic cells have been found to directly kill T cells lacking CD47, providing a new insight into the immune system's ability to distinguish self from non-self. This discovery has potential implications for cancer treatment and raises questions about the therapeutic application of this novel mechanism.

SourceKobe University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 7, 2023

Turns out lowly thymus may be saving your life

A new Harvard-led research suggests that the thymus, often considered expendable in adults, actually plays a crucial role in maintaining adult immune health and preventing cancer. The study found that patients who had their thymus removed had a nearly threefold higher risk of death from various causes, including cancer.

SourceHarvard University Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 3, 2023

Alternative cellular ‘fuels’ boost immunity

A recent study published in Immunity has found that ketone bodies, produced by the liver during fasting or low glucose levels, power immune cells and improve T cell function. This discovery may pave the way for personalized dietary recommendations to augment treatments for infection, cancer, and other diseases.

SourceVan Andel Research Institute·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2023

Why we lose fat and muscle during infection

Researchers found that CD4+ T cells initiate fat wasting, while CD8+ T cells induce muscle wasting, which surprisingly helps the mice fight infection and survive. The study sheds light on the complex relationship between immune cells and wasting responses.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 24, 2023

Automated, accurate reporting for NGS-based clonality testing

Researchers have developed an automated calling algorithm for determining B and T cell clonality from NGS data with greater sensitivity than previous models. The new model increases the assay's sensitivity in detecting clonality, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and monitoring of lymphoproliferative disorders.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 16, 2023

Chinese Medical Journal article explores how bispecific antibodies could bring new hope to patients with lung cancer

Researchers from China explore the mechanisms of action and clinical data of bispecific antibodies, which have shown promise in increasing cytotoxicity against cancerous cells and enhancing immune response towards tumor clearance. Several bsAbs are being evaluated in phase I-III clinical trials for lung cancer treatment.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·DateMay 16, 2023

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Antitumor Response: Decoding Molecular Mechanisms

Researchers found that immune checkpoint inhibitors increase the mobilization of overlapping tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells, leading to antitumor effects. The diverse subset of T-cell clones plays a key role in this response, with polyclonal clones exhibiting more proliferative potential and contributing to effective treatment outcomes.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalCancer Immunology Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2023

Patient-specific cells generated from thymus organoids

The study successfully generated functional patient-specific T-cells and thymic epithelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells using thymus organoids. This breakthrough provides a new experimental model system to investigate thymic insufficiency and function, potentially leading to cell-based treatments for thymic defects.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 23, 2023

Harnessing good fats to relieve MS symptoms

A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that a fish oil derivative called DHEA can reduce inflammation and disease severity in mice with multiple sclerosis. By supplementing the diet of mice with DHEA, researchers noticed a decrease in MS-like disease symptoms and an improvement in the immune system's response.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2023

Researchers from the Hospital 12 de Octubre and the Josep Carreras Institute create a cell therapy based on STAb cells for a type of leukemia with few treatment options

Researchers from Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and Josep Carreras Institute create a cell therapy based on STAb cells for T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL), a rare disease with few treatment options. The new therapy offers an alternative to CAR-T therapies, which have limitations in treating this type of leukemia.

SourceJosep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute·JournalBMJ·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2023

Study discovers triple immunotherapy combination as possible treatment for pancreatic cancer

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a novel triple immunotherapy combination targeting checkpoints in T cells and myeloid suppressor cells, improving anti-tumor responses and survival rates in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. The study found that neutralizing specific immunosuppressive mechanisms dramatical...

Intestinal microorganisms influence white blood cell levels in blood

A team of researchers discovered that the gut microbiome plays a critical role in driving granulopoiesis, a process formation of granulocytes, in mice models. The study found that alterations in the gut microbiome composition induced by neutropenia stimulate reactive granulopoiesis via interleukin 17A secreted by T cells, promoting neu...

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2022

Researchers find treatment options for patients whose blood cancer relapses after CAR-T

Researchers have found therapies that can help patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who tried CAR-T therapy, including bispecific antibodies and other types of CAR-T cell therapy. The study analyzed 79 patients and found that stem cell transplants and other drug combinations showed some efficacy in these patients.

COVID-19 vaccine developed by Brazilian scientists is ready for clinical trials

A novel COVID-19 vaccine developed by Brazilian scientists combines two SARS-CoV-2 proteins to trigger a cellular immune response. The vaccine, called SpiN, showed promise in animal trials, protecting against three strains of the virus and reducing viral load by up to 50 times.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 6, 2022

Study reports blocking key enzyme boosts anti-cancer T-cell responses and resistance to immunosuppression

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans have identified a critical immunosuppressive pathway and developed an experimental inhibitor to protect T-cells from weakening. The CBL-B inhibitors show great potential in enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, making patients' T-cells more effective in killing cancer cells.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2022