Articles tagged with Immune Cells
A study by University of Arizona researchers reveals a previously unknown population of circulating immune cells that play a critical role in fibrosis, the buildup of scar tissue. Blocking signals from these cells during wound healing can reduce scar tissue formation and promote normal healing.
Researchers at LJI have discovered a cellular driver that leads to the development of tissue-resident memory T cells, which specialize in defending specific organs. The study found that GPR25 sustains TGF-\u00b2 signaling, promoting differentiation and transformation into these specialized immune cells.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes and UCSF have identified the genetic switches that regulate FOXP3 levels in human and mouse cells. In humans, multiple enhancers work together to keep FOXP3 active, while a repressor keeps it off in conventional T cells. This discovery has important implications for developing immune therapies.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Michele Ardolino is bridging scientific fields to unlock the mechanisms behind effective immune responses in cancer patients. They will study the interactions between the immune system, nervous system, and gut microbiome to design more personalized treatment strategies.
Researchers have identified two groups of brain cells in mice that regulate anxiety - a 'gas pedal' that accelerates anxiety and a 'brake pedal' that prevents it. The discovery could lead to the development of new therapies for anxiety disorders by targeting these microglia.
Researchers have identified a distinct population of neuroprotective microglia that may point to a new therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. Microglia with reduced expression of PU.1 and co-expression of CD28 limit neuroinflammation and slow amyloid plaque build-up.
Scientists have discovered that immune cells shed their glycocalyx layer to move into tissues, changing the understanding of inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis. This finding may lead to new approaches in developing drugs targeting immune cell movement and treating infections and inflammatory diseases.
This study found 32 immune cell phenotypes associated with epilepsy risk, including B cells and regulatory T cells. Inflammatory proteins also played a role, with some increasing and others decreasing the risk of epilepsy.
Researchers discovered that cardiac fibroblasts use a signaling pathway to promote harmful changes in the heart, weakening its ability to pump blood efficiently. Blocking this pathway in mice models improved heart function, suggesting that fibroblasts could be a potential target for new therapeutic strategies.
A new study shows that eosinophils, typically linked to allergies, play a protective role against Candida infections by recognizing the fungus and releasing proteins that stop its growth. This discovery opens the door to new therapies that could strengthen natural defenses against life-threatening fungal infections.
Researchers at UCLA have developed CAR-NKT cell therapy, which can attack tumors from multiple fronts while dismantling their protective shields. The therapy uses engineered immune cells that can be mass-produced from donated blood stem cells and stored ready-to-use, offering a potentially life-changing treatment option.
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.
Researchers identified key genes connected to cellular lipid metabolism that guide the precise release of cytotoxic granules in human NK and T cells. This discovery explains how immune cells work and sheds light on diseases caused by genetic defects.
Researchers identify PIEZO2-expressing fibroblasts as key drivers of keloid formation and recurrence. These cells sense mechanical pressure, leading to excessive collagen production and scarring. The study's findings hold significant implications for future diagnosis and treatment options.
Researchers at The University of Osaka have identified a previously uncharacterized subset of immune cells called preTfr that play a critical role in preventing autoantibody production. In patients with severe COVID-19, these cells are significantly reduced, correlating with increased levels of harmful autoantibodies.
A newly identified antibody, 04_A06, has been found to block 98.5% of over 300 different HIV strains in laboratory tests. In humanized mice models, the antibody reduced viral load to undetectable levels, offering a promising approach for HIV prevention and treatment.
Shimon Sakaguchi's groundbreaking discovery of peripheral immune tolerance revealed a major unknown mechanism for autoimmunity, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. His work led to the identification of regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system's 'security guards', ensuring balanced responses and preventing self-destruction.
Researchers at Ohio State University have found that cancer immunotherapy fails due to a collapse in protein quality control, leading to T-cell exhaustion. This discovery offers a new avenue for cancer immune therapy development by targeting the protein production cycle.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered that ALS is likely caused by an autoimmune reaction triggered by inflammatory CD4+ T cells targeting specific proteins in the nervous system. Anti-inflammatory CD4+ T cells may slow disease progression and prolong survival times.
The University of California - Riverside is receiving a $2 million grant to investigate how gut microbes interact with their human hosts to influence health. The research aims to create next-generation probiotics that strengthen the gut microbiome, improve vaccine effectiveness, and prevent infections.
Research has shown that lymph nodes provide the right environment for stem-like T cells to survive, multiply, and produce killer cells. Preserving lymph nodes could strengthen immune responses and increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The study's findings have important implications for cancer therapy.
Researchers have identified a key immunoregulatory mechanism in aspergillosis, where the dendritic cell receptor limits the host's response to fungal infections. Neutrophils play a crucial role in clearing fungal hyphae, and Dcir regulates their degranulation activity, which is essential for killing pathogens.
A team of Japanese researchers has identified shootin1b as a protein that promotes cell migration in glioblastoma, the most common and difficult-to-treat brain tumor. By suppressing abnormal activity of shootin1b, the study suggests a potential target for preventing glioblastoma spread.
Researchers at NUS have developed a bioengineering approach to keep human lymph node tissue alive and functioning outside the body for several days. The method involves embedding thin slices of lymph node tissue in a soft gel that mimics the body's natural environment, allowing for detailed studies of immune cell behavior.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine discovered a new function of antibody-making B cells in response to flu infection. These cells produce a key signaling molecule called interleukin-1 beta, which is necessary for developing a robust immune response and forming optimal germinal centers.
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin discovered that electrically stimulating macrophages can shift them into an anti-inflammatory state, promoting faster tissue repair. This breakthrough offers a potentially powerful new therapeutic option for treating inflammation-driven diseases and injuries.
Researchers found that a high fiber diet reduced Alzheimer's-related frailty and tremor in mice by restoring balance in the gut immune system. This discovery provides a potential new therapeutic pathway for the disease.
Researchers at Lund University identify genetic toolkit to program dendritic cell subtypes for targeted cancer treatment. The discovery could lead to more precise and powerful immunotherapies by supplying patients with tailored dendritic cells.
Researchers mapped the surface envelope glycoprotein of human endogenous retroviruses, opening doors to new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. The study revealed specific antibodies that target the viral proteins, potentially leading to new cancer immunotherapies and treatments for autoimmune diseases.
A new study identifies a critical gene that regulates immune responses in female T cells but not in males. This discovery may lead to more effective treatments tailored to biological sex for diseases such as severe asthma and infections affecting millions of people worldwide.
Researchers discovered a multi-faceted mechanism behind ASD, revealing the gut microbiota and host immune system's influence on disease progression. Precision-selected probiotics restored metabolic balance, reduced neuroinflammation, and ameliorated behavioral abnormalities in ASD mouse models.
Researchers discovered that vaccines induce changes in stromal cells of draining lymph nodes within hours, priming the landscape for immune responses. Different vaccines activate lymph node stromal cells differently, with some inducing specific effects on lymphatic endothelial cells.
Research at DZNE suggests that immune response plays a significant role in Alzheimer's disease, causing olfactory dysfunctions by attacking neuronal fibers. This may enable the development of early diagnosis and treatment methods.
A team of researchers identified a complex network of regulatory proteins responsible for triggering the most appropriate immune response in macrophages. This study offers new insights into macrophage biology and sheds light on how these cells coordinate their responses to various pathogens.
A team of researchers developed a technology that allows them to measure millions of cell-to-cell interactions quickly and affordably. The study shows that this approach can help predict how patients will respond to immunotherapies, laying the foundation for more personalized treatments.
Researchers discovered that our bodies add sugars to RNA, shielding it from the immune system. This 'sugarcoating' prevents inflammation and helps clean up dead cells.
Researchers at WashU Medicine discovered that mast cells stand guard at tiny gates through which fluid waste leaves the brain, mounting a response when a pathogen is detected to close the gates and prevent invaders from entering. Enhanced mast cell activity before an infection reduced bacterial load.
Researchers discovered that a type of HPV commonly found on the skin can directly cause a form of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma when immune cells malfunction. The study's findings suggest that other people with defective T-cell responses may also be susceptible to cancer caused directly by beta-HPV.
A new study shows that delivering a single injection of gene therapy at birth may offer years-long protection against HIV. The treatment uses an adeno-associated virus to deliver instructions to muscle cells, which produce broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of neutralizing multiple strains of HIV.
Researchers discovered that immune cells called T cells are abundant in mammary glands during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with some relocating from the gut. This finding may help explain the benefits of breastfeeding and inform dietary decisions to enhance breast milk production and quality.
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers found that PD-1 plays a critical role in forming long-term immune defenders in the skin. Blocking PD-1 too early can disrupt this process, leading to side effects. The study challenges current understanding of PD-1 and may impact cancer treatments.
Diana Hargreaves will receive $1 million to advance her project on improving immunotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer. Her previous work identified better drug targets for cancers with SWI/SNF mutations, leading to breakthroughs in treating difficult-to-treat cancers.
Dendritic cells assemble central actin structure to push obstacles away, generating space for migration. Mutations in Dock8 gene lead to severe immune disorder symptoms.
Researchers have engineered a monoclonal antibody that blocks allergic reactions against common pollen when applied inside the nose of mice, providing new hope for hay fever sufferers. The treatment, known as a 'molecular shield,' acts immediately and locally at the lining of the nose to prevent IgE antibodies from being activated.
Researchers identify Egr-1 as a key regulator of Treg cell development and function, suggesting it as a promising therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. The study's findings indicate that activating the Egr-1 gene can help alleviate autoimmune inflammation via Foxp3 expression.
Scientists have developed a new tool named scICE to tackle the stability problem in single-cell RNA sequencing data. The tool provides a way to validate clustering outcomes mathematically, ensuring higher confidence in conclusions drawn from single-cell data.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that biological drugs used to treat severe asthma do not completely eradicate inflammatory cells. Researchers discovered an increase in blood levels of these cells during treatment, which could explain why inflammation often returns when treatment is tapered or discontinued. The study aims t...
A new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found that fire smoke exposure can alter the immune system on a cellular level, even in healthy individuals. Exposure to particulate matter, gases, and other compounds in fire smoke was linked to changes in immune cells, inflammation, and gene expression.
Researchers discovered that immune cells can reinforce polycaprolactone implants by forming special giant cells and secreting molecules that form strong bonds to the surface. This finding opens new doors for developing safer and more durable implant solutions.
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.
Research found that macrophages use two independent pathways to regulate inflammatory and lysosomal responses to toxic particles. The study identified key transcription factors and signaling pathways involved, offering potential therapeutic opportunities to quell inflammation.
Researchers found that cytotoxic NK cells can prevent T cells from attacking tumors in patients resistant to immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Targeting these cells could lead to more effective immunotherapy.
Researchers at MD Anderson have made significant progress in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by combining chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. They found that pre-surgical combination therapy showed promising results, with high rates of pathological complete response and major pathological response.
Researchers at Nagoya University have created CAR-T cells that recognize and target the Eva1 protein on cancer cells, effectively eliminating tumors in lab mice. The treatment is designed to be safer by ignoring healthy cells with low amounts of Eva1.
Sara Poletti's research reveals how childhood trauma triggers persistent neuroinflammation pathways and alters brain structure, creating lifelong vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. Her work identifies biological markers of trauma and explores prevention strategies to reduce mental illness odds.
A proof-of-concept study shows that chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can distinguish between tau tangles and various forms of toxic amyloid plaques, two key contributors to Alzheimer's disease pathology. The technology has the potential to deliver therapeutic drugs directly to affected areas of the brain with reduced side effects.
Researchers at Harvard University's Wyss Institute have successfully created human microglia cells in a dish, using induced pluripotent stem cells, within four days. This breakthrough enables new avenues for brain disease-focused research and potential therapeutic perspectives.
A Duke-NUS-led team compiled a comprehensive review of over 200 studies on immune cells and scarring, identifying macrophages as key drivers of fibrosis. The 'handbook' aims to accelerate scarring research and transform treatment for millions affected by fibrosis.
Researchers at University of Virginia Health System discovered that an immune molecule called STING drives the formation of harmful plaques and protein tangles associated with Alzheimer's. Blocking STING protected lab mice from mental decline, suggesting a promising treatment target for neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists have engineered a herpes virus to activate pathways in T cells, enhancing their ability to fight cancer. The approach uses proteins from the herpes virus to recruit enzymes that sustain T cell function in tumors.