Phagocytes

Study may help predict response to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer

Dual targeting approach improves immunotherapy response in glioblastoma

Blocking two key 'don't eat me signals' in cancer cells heightens the immune response and sensitizes tumors to immunotherapy in glioblastoma models. Researchers found that simultaneously blocking CD47 and CD24 improved immunotherapy response, allowing macrophages to better recognize and attack cancer cells.

Illinois team to lead up to $28M initiative to build a precision phage platform for promoting public health

Researchers are developing a precision phage platform to restore microbiome balance and combat antibiotic-resistant diseases. The MIGHTY project aims to harness phages as targeted antimicrobials, leveraging AI and machine learning methods to identify effective phage combinations.

Cystic fibrosis damages the immune system early on

Researchers at TUM found that cystic fibrosis causes changes in the immune system as early as birth, leading to frequent inflammation and infections. These changes are not affected by CFTR modulator therapies.

Research by UVA faculty member could help prevent organ transplant rejection

Researchers have made breakthroughs in creating nanoparticles that can modify the immune system to accept transplanted organs without compromising it. This new approach has potential implications for treating diabetes, cell therapy, and autoimmune disorders, offering hope for patients who currently face rejection.

EU funding for pioneering research on the treatment of gliomas

Researchers aim to improve glioma treatment with direct light therapy that targets cancer cells without harming healthy ones. The project will investigate the efficacy and safety of this approach, potentially leading to improved treatment outcomes.

Alveolar macrophages help CD8+ T cells go (anti-)viral

Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology found that alveolar macrophages act as antigen-presenting cells to prime CD8+ T cell expansion in the lungs. This process involves the production of interleukin 18, leading to the development of resident memory-type cell populations.

Chinese Medical Journal review explores the role of macrophages in the progression of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

A recent review article highlights the crucial role of macrophages in the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study suggests that targeting specific signaling pathways and altering macrophage activation can prevent renal fibrosis and CKD. Therapeutic strategies such as clodronate liposomes an...

Uncovering new details of the brain's first line of defense

A study by Kyushu University researchers has analyzed the development and genetic profile of a set of cells that construct the brain's immune system. The findings reveal that meningeal macrophages develop in the same way as other microglia, but perivascular macrophages originate from meningeal macrophages after birth.

A fuzzy response from memory B cells can protect against mutant viruses

Researchers discovered that memory B cells produce non-specific antibodies to combat virus mutants, working alongside phagocytes to screen for variants. This mechanism may offer protection against SARS-CoV2 and HIV variants, and could influence vaccine development.

Eating sea squirts may reverse the signs of ageing, study shows

A new study suggests that supplementing a diet with Ascidiacea, also known as sea squirts, reverses some main signs of aging in animal models. The researchers found that plasmalogens, vital to body processes, decrease with age and contribute to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Strategies for the regeneration of myelin

In chronic damage, new cholesterol production determines the efficiency of repair, with nerve cells contributing to replenishing myelin-forming cells. Treatment with a cholesterol-enriched diet enhances oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation.

Cells control their dance of death

White blood cells use a protein called Plexin B2 to coordinate cell death and send signals to phagocytes for removal. This process is crucial for understanding inflammatory disorders like autoimmunity.

Immunology -- two for the price of one

A team of researchers has characterized the fates of individual phagocytes in the central nervous system, revealing that they can switch between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory phenotypes. This discovery sheds light on the complex role of mononuclear phagocytes in neuroinflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Observing inflammatory cells in the body

Researchers at the University of Münster have developed a new method to study inflammatory cells in mice, allowing for genetic modification, multiplication, and visualization in living organisms. This approach reduces the number of animal experiments needed.

What happens to a dying cell's corpse? New findings illuminate an old problem

Researchers discover an unusual cell-death process in microscopic worms, where the dying cell breaks apart and is gradually removed by other cells. The study sheds new light on how phagocytes, the body's vacuum cleaners, work.

Scientists identify immune cells that keep gut fungi under control

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a type of white blood cell that regulates the gut fungal population and protects against harmful fungi. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms leading to ASCA generation, suggesting patients with certain gene variants may benefit from antifungal therapy.

How cholesterol contributes to age-related neuron impairment

A new study in mice reveals that excess cholesterol may be hindering the repair of fatty protective sheaths around neurons. Researchers found that phagocytes, which ingest debris, had internal organs called lysosomes overwhelmed with cholesterol crystals, reducing their ability to repair myelin.

Potential new approaches to treating eye diseases

A new study found that IL-33 amplifies an innate immune response in the degenerating retina, leading to retinal cell death. Inhibiting IL-33 may help treat AMD and other retinal degenerative diseases.

UIC researchers discover how cells limit inflammation in lung injury

UIC researchers found a molecular mechanism that allows immune cells to reduce tissue damage from inflammation in lung injury. TRPM2 channel modulates the production of reactive oxygen species, helping to protect against inflammation and tissue injury.

Snoring or soaring? Strength of fruit-fly immune system varies

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that a fruit fly's immune system responds to infections based on its daily cycle and circadian rhythms. The study suggests that understanding the relationship between sleep patterns and immunity could have significant implications for human health.

White blood cell 'waste disposal' system plays critical regulatory role

Researchers found that phagocytes reduce IL-23 production after ingesting apoptotic neutrophils, leading to decreased inflammatory response. Abnormal neutrophils with impaired migration resulted in elevated IL-23 and IL-17 levels.