Immune System News and Research

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Immune cells in arteries can sniff out their surroundings and cause inflammation

An artery is not like a nose. Or is it? Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have discovered that immune cells in arteries can "sniff" out their surroundings and cause inflammation.

17 Jan 2022

Researchers discover a gene variant that protects against severe COVID-19 infection

An international metastudy led by researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden has identified a specific gene variant that protects against severe COVID-19 infection.

17 Jan 2022

Researchers identify new potential drug target that may block SARS-CoV-2 infection

In the quest for new treatments for COVID-19, a team led by researchers at UC San Francisco has identified a new potential drug target that may block infection by SARS-CoV-2. The protein, called BRD2, regulates the ACE2 receptor, which the novel coronavirus relies on to gain entry to its host's cells.

17 Jan 2022

Research sheds new insights into development of lung macrophages in humans

The lungs are exposed to microorganisms like viruses and bacteria from the moment of the first breath.

13 Jan 2022

Moffitt researchers unravel the role of B cells in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Patients who have active immune responses against cancer cells tend to have better outcomes, but much of what is known focuses on only one type of immune cell called T cells.

13 Jan 2022

Researchers determine how key protein drives the defense system to fight viruses

Scientists have just found a solution to a major mystery that explains how human blood cells train the defense system against viruses. They hope that this discovery will one day allow them to better control the response and either boost or calm it as needed.

13 Jan 2022

Researchers reveal molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to tertiary lymphoid structures formation

Tertiary lymphoid structures are formations that occur outside of the lymphatic system. They contain immune cells and are similar in structure and function to lymph nodes and other lymphoid structures.

12 Jan 2022

Research provides novel insights on cancer immunotherapy

UC San Francisco researchers have defined 12 classes of “immune archetypes” to identify cancer tumors based on data from over 300 patient tumors.

10 Jan 2022

Experts develop Immuno-CRISPR assay to detect kidney transplant complications

Doctors monitor kidney transplant recipients for signs of rejection in several ways, including biopsy.

7 Jan 2022

Scientists use fruit fly embryos to study immune cell invasion

To fight infections and heal injuries, immune cells need to enter tissue. They also need to invade tumors to fight them from within.

7 Jan 2022

Simple, marine-dwelling creature shines light on cancer resistance

A simple, marine-dwelling creature known as Trichoplax adhaerens has some remarkable properties. The organism can tolerate unusually high doses of radiation that would kill most other forms of life. T. adhaerens has another intriguing characteristic: the ability to resist cancer.

24 Dec 2021

COVID-19 virus spreads through cell-to-cell transmission

The virus that causes COVID-19 has adopted some stealth moves to stay alive and kicking, and one secret to its success is hiding from the immune system by spreading through cell-to-cell transmission, a new study has found.

24 Dec 2021

Researchers uncover a new signaling pathway essential for T cell viability

They are at the forefront in the fight against viruses, bacteria, and malignant cells: the T cells of our immune system. But the older we get, the fewer of them our body produces.

23 Dec 2021

A genetic variation makes sugar healthy for some Greenlanders

A genetic variation among some Greenlanders makes sugar healthy – significantly more than for most people.

23 Dec 2021

Study identifies novel function for existing protein

Researchers recently identified a new role of the protein tBID, which was to date linked to the regulatory role in cancer and cell death. But tBID also directly mediates apoptosis (controlled cell death).

23 Dec 2021

Study uncovers mechanism that triggers cancer cell death

Scientists recently pinpointed the mechanism by which inhibitors of the ERK5 protein kinase diminish cancer cell proliferation and trigger their death.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers develop novel technique to monitor remote immune mechanisms

The human immune system works hard to maintain an individual’s health and protect against viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and cancerous cells.

17 Dec 2021

Experts investigate link between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s disease

Case reports of younger COVID-19 patients developing Parkinson’s disease within weeks of contracting the virus led researchers to investigate a possible link between the two conditions.

17 Dec 2021

What Role do Genes Play in the Development of Antibodies?

In this interview, we speak to researchers from the University of Toronto about their latest research that investigated the role genes play in the development of antibodies.

From University of Toronto 16 Dec 2021

Driving up the immune response at tumor site may help boost immunotherapy

Driving up the immune response at the site of a cancer tumor with nanotechnology may help enhance immunotherapy treatments in advanced stages of the disease, new research in mice suggests.

15 Dec 2021