Human beings are large, complex, multicellular, multi-organ systems. We reproduce slowly and rely on a breadth of mechanisms that allow us to control the myriad of rapidly replicating, simple life forms that have evolved to live in or on us. The immune system has to establish which cells belong to us and which are foreign,...
Tag: <span>Immunology</span>
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Patients’ sex may impact efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer treatment
Different immune responses between men and women, and potential interaction with hormones might impact how men and women benefit from immunotherapy drugs, authors propose. A patient’s sex might impact on the efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer treatment, according to a new meta-analysis of 20 randomised trials in over 11000 patients with advanced cancer published in The Lancet...
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‘Molecular scissors’ could be key to cutting off diseases including HIV infection Newly discovered pathway could be drug target, researchers say
COLUMBUS, Ohio – One way to fight diseases including HIV infection and autoimmune disorders could involve changing how a naturally occurring enzyme called SAMHD1 works to influence the immune system, new research suggests. The study, led by researchers from The Ohio State University, details how the enzyme influences proteins that stimulate the immune response. SAMHD1...
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New compound helps activate cancer-fighting T cells
Study identifies mechanisms responsible for improved immune system activity, offering new approaches for more effective cancer treatments and vaccines. UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT IMAGE: THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION SHOWING INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COMPONENTS OF THE AH10-7 COMPOUND (YELLOW), AN IMMUNE SYSTEM ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELL (GRAY), AND AN INVARIANT NATURAL KILLER T CELL (GREEN AND BLUE) CREDIT: JOSE GASCON/UCONN Invariant...
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Tumor suppressor protein targets liver cancer
Salk Institute scientists, together with researchers from Switzerland’s University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, discovered a protein called LHPP that acts as a molecular switch to turn off the uncontrolled growth of cells in liver cancer. The tumor suppressor, which could be useful as a biomarker to help diagnose and monitor treatment for liver...
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A combination of cancer immunotherapies could save more lives
The pre-clinical study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, by Dr Sarah Buchan and colleagues, combined antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1, a type of immunotherapy known as checkpoint blockade that overcomes the resistance of cancer cells to the immune system, with another antibody against CD27, which kick starts the immune system to find and kill the cancer cells. Results...
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Flu breakthrough: A one-shot vaccine that protects for LIFE is on the horizon after scientists discover it is possible to stop the virus travelling through the nose and reaching the lungs
Scientists have discovered cells in the nose that stop flu reaching our lungs These cells, called Trms, protect against many strains of the virus Flu’s chameleon-like nature forces scientists to constantly make new vaccines Yet the Trm cells in the nose could ‘outwit the virus’, Melbourne scientists say Paves way for new vaccine providing long-term protection against...