Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research captured 'housekeeping' immune cells actively attacking and engulfing live melanoma cells. These macrophages patrol the edges of melanoma tumours, steadily engulfing cancer cells and slowing tumour growth. The discovery has big implications for immunotherapy.
Researchers engineer T cells to express specific TCRs, demonstrating that antigen recognition drives phagocytosis and identifying key regulatory parameters, such as antigen density. The study's findings offer mechanistic insights and translational promise for immunotherapy.
Researchers found penicillin-streptomycin increases macrophage stiffness and rewires ECM mechanosensing, impairing immune function and suggesting potential off-target effects in clinical use. The study highlights the need to re-evaluate common cell culture reagents through a mechanobiological lens.
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.
A study led by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers found that inhibiting the protein PTP1B improves learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. This suggests that PTP1B inhibition can also improve microglial function, clearing up Aβ plaques.
A team of scientists has developed a protein-based therapeutic tool called Crunch to target and remove specific living cells, such as cancer cells or overactive immune cells. The new system uses the body's natural waste removal system to clear out unwanted cells, offering hope for improved treatments.
Scientists at Nagoya University discovered that dying cancer cells can trigger an inflammatory feedback loop that promotes tumor growth. When macrophages consume dying cancer cells, they produce cytokines that activate growth signals in remaining cancer cells.
A new study finds that macrophages, the liver's cleanup specialists, quickly adapt after injury to clear debris and support tissue recovery. The research highlights the dynamic nature of these cells during liver injury and repair, offering promising implications for future therapies.
Researchers highlight key phagocytosis checkpoints and 'do not eat me' signals as potential therapeutic targets for novel immunotherapies. The editorial summarizes challenges in targeting CD47 and potential solutions to overcome these obstacles.
A KAIST research team has identified excessive astrocyte-mediated synapse removal as the cause of mental diseases induced by childhood abuse trauma. This mechanism is linked to stress hormones and can lead to abnormal neural networks and complex behavioral abnormalities.
Researchers have uncovered a previously unknown process in marine phytoplankton that accounts for between 7% to 25% of all oxygen produced and carbon fixed in the ocean. This discovery sheds light on how tiny organisms contribute to global oxygen production, with potential implications for our understanding of evolution.
Researchers from Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a fluorescence-based monitoring system to study BAR protein assembly. The study found that WASP, Cdc42, and other proteins facilitate GAS7 assembly on lipid membranes, promoting cellular shape formation and protein signaling.
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University have made a breakthrough in understanding how macrophages recognize microplastics, discovering an interaction between aromatic rings that drives this process. The study suggests that while microplastics may not induce acute inflammation, chronic exposure could lead to autoimmune diseases.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict the efficiency of nanoparticle delivery into cells, particularly in stem cells. They found that nanoparticles become trapped in bubble-like vesicles, preventing them from reaching their targets.
Researchers at Uppsala University discovered that the ancestors of Legionella bacteria infected eukaryotic cells around 2 billion years ago. This finding challenges the chicken-or-egg debate about which came first, phagocytosis or mitochondria evolution.
Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that the circadian system influences the immune cells' clearance of Amyloid-Beta 42, a key protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. Boosting daily oscillations could increase clearance and prevent brain damage.
A recent study used induced pluripotent stem cells to find drugs that enhance phagocytosis in the retinal pigment epithelium, a process critical for preventing vision loss. Several drugs showed promise, including Ramoplanin, which rescued defects in RPE from patients with a certain genetic form of RP.
Researchers discovered that DAPPD promotes phagocytosis of microglia cells, leading to reduced amyloid deposition and improved cognitive function. The study suggests that targeting neuroinflammation may be a viable therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
The study reveals that the GAS7 protein's BAR domain is essential for phagocytic cup formation, enabling macrophages to efficiently consume debris. The protein's oligomerization and membrane binding are critical for this process.
Research reveals that alcohol impairs microglial cells' ability to clear amyloid beta, contributing to Alzheimer's disease development. The study found altered gene expression for 312 genes under alcohol exposure.
Macrophages use a membrane protein called SLC4A7 to acidify their phagosomes, allowing them to kill bacteria. Impaired SLC4A7 leads to decreased capacity to kill bacteria and increased protons in the cytoplasm.
A novel therapy inhibits complement activation in affected brain tissue to preserve neurons and reduce inflammation after stroke. This treatment shows promise in preventing chronic inflammation and improving neurological deficits.
A computational model predicts which organisms can engage in phagocytosis, a process vital for immune defenses and nutrient uptake. The model's findings suggest that phagocytosis may have arisen after the combination of archaeal and bacterial components in eukaryotic cells.
Phagocytosis not only eliminates useless cells, but also 'educates' macrophages, the immune cells that carry it out. This process helps maintain tissues in a clean and healthy state. Researchers identified specific molecular toolkits for eliminating unwanted cells in each tissue.
Microglial cells have been found to be 'blind' and incapable of eliminating dead neurons during epilepsy seizures, leading to inflammation and further brain damage. The study opens up new avenues for exploring therapies to encourage phagocytosis and alleviate the effects of brain diseases.
Dendritic cells (DCs) process and present antigens to cytotoxic T cells through cross-presentation. Researchers found that a delayed fusion between phagosomes and lysosomes enhances antigen presentation. This mechanism helps DCs induce effective immunity against pathogens, while preventing the uptake of 'self' antigens.
Activated dendritic cells use phagocytosis to process and present antigens, promoting immune responses. Researchers discovered that a delay in lysosome fusion after phagocytosis prevents excessive antigen degradation and promotes cross-presentation.
A study by Dini et al. investigates the effect of 6 mT Static Magnetic Field (SMF) on phagocytosis in human macrophages, finding that it depends on the degree of macrophage differentiation. The results suggest that moderate intensity SMF can modify cell surface morphology and influence fluid-phase endocytosis and phagocytosis.
Research reveals that the immune system's phagocytic response is stronger at night and weaker during the day, with flies infected at night showing improved survival rates. The study suggests that circadian proteins play a crucial role in regulating immunity, particularly during restorative functions like sleep.
Researchers find that fish and amphibian B cells exhibit strong phagocytosis in both in vivo and vitro experiments. This discovery suggests an evolutionary relationship between macrophages and B cells, with implications for understanding human immune systems.
Phagocytosis, a key part of the immune system, depends on macrophages to remove particles from the body. Researchers at UCSB found that particle shape, not size, is more important in this process. This discovery could lead to the design of drug carriers that can be retained by the body for longer periods and vaccines that stimulate rap...
Researchers explored the anti-inflammatory properties of apoptotic bodies in various diseases, including IBD and osteoarthritis. They found that these bodies can modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation, offering new therapeutic targets for treating chronic inflammatory conditions.