Researchers offer new insight into how the immune system relates to cancer. A new articl looks at how an enzyme called ADAR1 operates in pathways associated with cancer.
Combination therapy may provide significant protection against lethal influenza
A significant proportion of hospitalized patients with influenza develop complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Investigators have found that treatment with an immune receptor blocker in combination with an antiviral agent markedly impro…
Double duty: Gut’s immune system helps regulate food processing, too
The small intestine is ground zero for survival of animals. It is responsible for absorbing the nutrients crucial to life and it wards off toxic chemicals and life-threatening bacteria. Researchers report the critical role played by the gut’s immune sy…
A leap forward in research on CAR T cell therapy
A study looked into how CAR T immunotherapy could be used to treat solid tumors in addition to leukemias. The programming of CAR T cells opens avenues for applying cell therapies to, for example, breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the future.
Cellular benefits of gene therapy seen decades after treatment
Researchers have shown that the beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen decades after the transplanted blood stem cells has been cleared by the body.
Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer
Cancer cells have evolved mechanisms to escape the body’s immune defense. Agents that prevent immune escape are attractive targets for the development of new cancer therapies. Scientists have now developed a new cell-based test system to identify immun…
Research shows how mutations in SARS-CoV-2 allow the virus to dodge immune defenses
In lab-dish experiments, the mutant virus escaped antibodies from the plasma of COVID-19 survivors as well as pharmaceutical-grade antibodies. Mutations arose in an immunocompromised patient with chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patient-derived virus harb…
How pregnancy turns the stress response on its head
Researchers found two simultaneous conditions during pregnancy in response to stress that made them realize just how complex the cross-talk between mom and baby is during gestation: Immune cells in the placenta and uterus were not activated, but signif…
Brain disease research reveals differences between sexes
Scientists highlight a growing body of research suggesting sex differences play roles in how patients respond to brain diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, and other brain ailments. They are urging their colleagues to remember…
In severe COVID, cytokine ‘hurricane’ in lung attracts damaging inflammatory cells
A real-time study of immune responses inside the lungs of COVID patients suggests a cytokine ‘hurricane’ in the airways drives severe disease, and an influx of T cells may be critical to survival.