“This is a very striking and significant result that essentially separates LIGHT from any of the other inflammatory cytokines that have been implicated in the process in severe asthmatics.”
Tag: Immune System
Common immune cells can prevent intestinal healing
B cells are critical to the proper functioning of the immune system.
Immune T cell defence is coping with COVID-19 variants of concern – for now
Immune T cells are continuing to target the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, although mutations are making some T cells less effective, according to new research.
DNA barcoding reveals cancer cells’ ability to evade the immune system
Some cancer cells can deploy parallel mechanisms to evade the immune system’s defences as well as resist immunotherapy treatment, according to a new study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn wins WHAM Edge Award funding to study sex-based differences in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Ph.D., aims to shed light on how sex-based immune system differences may affect the development and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases in men versus women.
Selection of human immune-related genes was driven by the Black Death
New research on ancient DNA found individuals with two copies of a specific variant of the ERAP2 gene were much more likely to survive the plague.
The Black Death shaped the evolution of immunity genes, setting the course for how we respond to disease today, researchers find
An international team of scientists who analyzed centuries-old DNA from victims and survivors of the Black Death pandemic has identified key genetic differences that determined who lived and who died, and how those aspects of our immune systems have continued to evolve since that time.
Disarming the Body’s Defenders
Study shows how certain cancers neutralize T cells to subvert the immune system and help tumors grow
Uncovering the skin’s secrets: Studies show how skin forms differently across the body
Two recent UC Davis studies reveal how skin forms differently across different areas of the body from the face and underarms to the palms of our hands and feet. By profiling the changes in skin, researchers found that the differences have a direct impact for how various skin diseases form across the body.
Newly Discovered “Danger Signal” May Spur Vaccine Development and Allergy Treatment
A team of Rutgers researchers and others inject parasitic worms into mice to study how injured cells trigger an immune response.
Researchers ID Low Immune Cell Responsiveness and High Level of Proteins as Features of COVID-19 Severity
Article title: Chemokines, soluble PD-L1 and immune cell hyporesponsiveness are distinct features of SARS-CoV-2 critical illness Authors: Eric D. Morrell, Pavan K. Bhatraju, Neha A. Sathe, Jonathan Lawson, Linzee Mabrey, Sarah E. Holton, Scott R. Presnell, Alice Wiedeman, Carolina Acosta-Vega,…
The immune system can help us diagnose cancer
One of the deadliest forms of cancer is biliary tract cancer. Only one in three patients diagnosed with the disease is operable. The rest must settle for life-sustaining treatment.
Anti-rejection medication and immunotherapy kicks cancer and protects kidney transplants
Adding immunotherapy to standard anti-rejection medication could change the lives of thousands of kidney transplant patients with incurable cancer, as new research shows it can reduce this risk of organ rejection and eliminate cancer in a quarter of patients.
Milk boost: Research shows how breastfeeding offers immune benefits
When infants breastfeed, they receive an immune boost that helps them fight off infectious diseases, according to recent research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Immune system uses two-step verification to defend against HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus 1, more commonly known as HIV-1, is known for its uncanny ability to evade the immune system.
Boot Camp for the Immune System
Researchers identify new mechanism that teaches immune cells-in-training to spare the body’s own tissues while attacking pathogens.
Mount Sinai Researchers Learn That ALS May Be Linked to Both the Immune and Central Nervous Systems
New York, NY (June 22, 2022) – The immune system may play a fundamental role along with the central nervous system in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” Mount Sinai researchers report. Their study, published…
Nerve Stimulation Promotes Resolution of Inflammation
The nervous system is known to communicate with the immune system and regulate inflammation in the body.
A nanoparticle and inhibitor trigger the immune system, outsmarting brain cancer
Scientists at the University of Michigan fabricated a nanoparticle to deliver an inhibitor to brain tumor in mouse models, where the drug successfully turned on the immune system to eliminate the cancer. The process also triggered immune memory so that a reintroduced tumor was eliminated—a sign that this potential new approach could not only treat brain tumors but prevent or delay recurrences.
Blood Biomarker Predicts Complicated Crohn’s Disease Years Before Diagnosis: Study
An international team led by a University of Toronto researcher has found that an antibody detectable in blood predicts severe Crohn’s disease and is detectable up to seven years prior to disease diagnosis.
Genetic test can diagnose certain immune system disorders
Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) can result in chronic and sometimes life-threatening infections.
Researchers Identify Potential Target for Treating Autoimmune Diseases
New research using a mouse model for multiple sclerosis has uncovered a potential new area to explore for possible treatments for autoimmune disorders.
Type-I interferon stops immune system ‘going rogue’ during viral infections
McMaster University researchers have discovered that Type I interferon (IFN) plays a key role in helping the immune system effectively target viruses, while stopping white blood cells from ‘going rogue’ and attacking the body’s own organs.
Discovery of cell protein that keeps Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus dormant
A study led by UC Davis Cancer Center identified a binding protein in cancer cell’s nucleus, known as CHD4, as a critical agent keeping Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) dormant and undetected by the body’s immune system. CHD4 is linked to cancer cell growth in many types of cancers.
Researchers Explore How Lack of Cadherin-11 Protein Drives Immune Response in Atherosclerosis
Article title: Impaired macrophage trafficking and increased helper T-cell recruitment with loss of cadherin-11 in atherosclerotic immune response Authors: Camryn L. Johnson, Lance Riley, Matthew Bersi, MacRae F. Linton, W. David Merryman From the authors: “The results from this study…
Shape of virus may determine RSV infection outcomes
Using a novel technology, the lab of Michael Vahey at the McKelvey School of Engineering uncovered shape-shifting properties of a common respiratory virus.
Einstein-Developed Treatment Strategy May Lead to HIV Cure
Armed with a novel strategy they developed for bolstering the body’s immune response, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have successfully suppressed HIV infections in mice—offering a path to a functional cure for HIV and other chronic viral infections. Their findings were published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
High Protein, Plant-Based Wagyu Beef Helps Increase Immunity — ASEAN’s Best Food Innovation by Chula Students
The Chula Science students team recently won the “ASEAN Food Innovation Challenge 2021” with the imitation Wagyu beef — “The Marble Booster” made from 100 percent high-protein plants. Low in cholesterol, and seasoned with immunity-boosting herbs, this product is soon to be produced and sold in collaboration with Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF).
UAMS Research Team Finds Potential Cause of COVID-19 ‘Long-haulers’
A research team has identified a potential cause of long-lasting symptoms experienced by COVID-19 patients, often referred to as long-haulers. The findings were published in the journal, The Public Library of Science ONE (PLOS ONE).
Breast milk of mothers who received COVID-19 vaccine contains antibodies that fight illness
The breast milk of lactating mothers vaccinated against COVID-19 contains a significant supply of antibodies that may help protect nursing infants from the illness, according to new research from the University of Florida.
Increasing The Immune System’s Appetite For Cancer Protectors
A two-arm molecule can effectively deplete cancer-protecting cells inside tumors, allowing the immune system to fight off tumors without becoming overactive. The finding, published online in Science Translational Medicine, could leaA two-arm molecule can effectively deplete cancer-protecting cells inside tumors, allowing the immune system to fight off tumors without becoming overactive. The finding, published online in Science Translational Medicine, could lead to new types of cancer immunotherapies.d to new types of cancer immunotherapies.
Mount Sinai Researchers Find Important Clue to Rare Inflammatory Disease in Children Following COVID-19 Infection
Mount Sinai researchers have found an important clue to a rare but serious aftereffect of COVID-19 in children, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C.
Newly Approved Lupus Drug Based on Discoveries Made in HSS Lab
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug anifrolumab (Saphnelo) on August 2, 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy. Much of the groundwork for the development of this drug was done in laboratories at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in the early 2000s.
Hopkins Med News Update
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Celebrates Its Contributions to Keto Therapy as Diet Turns 100
– COVID-19 News: Can Dietary Supplements Help the Immune System Fight Coronavirus Infection?
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Helps Develop Physician Training to Prevent Gun Injuries, Deaths
– COVID-19 News: Study Says Pandemic Impaired Reporting of Infectious Diseases
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Helps Create Treatment Guide for Neurodegenerative Disorders
– Johns Hopkins Pediatrics Says, ‘Get Kids Required Vaccines Before Going Back to School’
Discovery shows how tuning the immune system may enhance vaccines and ease disease
A metabolic control pathway that regulates T follicular helper cells offers targets for drugs to stimulate the adaptive immune response.
Studying how microbiome affects immunity could improve vaccine effectiveness
A new grant will help Iowa State University researchers figure out how the microbiome, or all the microorganisms that live inside and on human systems, affects immunity and the effectiveness of vaccines. Not everyone responds to vaccines in identical ways, and the researchers will search for ways humans can adjust their microbiomes to optimize vaccine response.
Response to COVID-19 Vaccines Varies Widely in Blood Cancer Patients
Patients with a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma had a widely variable response to COVID-19 vaccines—in some cases, no detectable response—pointing to the need for antibody testing and precautions for these patients after vaccination, according to a study published in Cancer Cell in June.
Trojan horses and tunneling nanotubes: Ebola virus research at Texas Biomed gets NIH funding boost
Scientists have a general idea of how viruses invade and spread in the body, but the precise mechanisms are actually not well understood, especially when it comes to Ebola virus. Olena Shtanko, Ph.D., a Staff Scientist at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed), has received more than $1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore different aspects of Ebola virus infection.
Understanding gut inflammation may hold clues to mitigating Parkinson’s onset
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (JUNE 8, 2021) — Chronic inflammation in the gut may propel processes in the body that give rise to Parkinson’s disease, according to a study by scientists at Van Andel Institute and Roche.
First in the World! Chulalongkorn Hospital Successfully Treats a Breast Cancer Patient with Immunotherapy
Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society (Chulalongkorn Hospital) has become the world’s first institution to have successfully used immunotherapy to treat a breast cancer patient who is now in complete remission with minimal side effects and uplifted quality of life.
Nearly 3% of Americans take immune-weakening drugs that may limit COVID vaccine response
A study of more than 3 million insured U.S. adult patients under 65 found that nearly 3% take immunosuppressive drugs that may elevate risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalization if they became infected. There is growing evidence that immunosuppressive drugs may also reduce the COVID vaccine’s efficacy.
How the Body Builds a Healthy Relationship with “Good” Gut Bacteria
Research published in Nature reveals insights into how the body maintains balance with “good” gut bacteria that allows these microbes to flourish in the intestine but keeps them out of tissues and organs where they’re not supposed to be.
Weizmann Institute Scientists Reveal the Triple Threat of Coronavirus
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute and the Israel Institute for Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences took a novel tack to investigating SARS-CoV-2’s powerful ability to infect, finding that the virus deploys an apparently unique three-pronged strategy to take over the cell’s protein-synthesis abilities. The work could help develop effective Covid-19 treatments.
University of Chicago scientists design “Nanotraps” to catch and clear coronavirus from tissue
Researchers at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago have designed a completely novel potential treatment for COVID-19: nanoparticles that capture SARS-CoV-2 viruses within the body and then use the body’s own immune system to destroy it.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
Coping with childhood anxiety amid returning to the classroom; new global tracker measures pandemic’s impact on education worldwide; Covid-19 drives innovation and evolution in patient care…
Putting up a good fight: Regenerating the body’s natural defenses by restoring lymphatic networks
A research team led by Donny Hanjaya-Putra is building new lymphatic cord-like structures, which help restore normal behavior to dysfunctional lymphatic systems and allow the body to fight the disease.
MAJORITY OF CANCER PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 HAVE SIMILAR IMMUNE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WITHOUT CANCER
Most people with cancer who are infected by the novel coronavirus produce antibodies at a rate comparable to the rest of the population—but their ability to do so depends on their type of cancer and the treatments they’ve received, according to a new study by researchers at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The findings, published online today in Nature Cancer, may lead to better care for cancer patients, who face a heightened risk of dying from COVID-19, and suggests that cancer patients should respond well to COVID-19 vaccines.
New Study Shows How Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Allow the Virus to Evade Immune System Defenses
Research reveals how mutated SARS-CoV-2 evades immune system 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 harbored structural changes now seen cropping up independently in samples across the globe
Findings underscore the need for better genomic surveillance to keep track of emerging variants
Results highlight importance of therapies aimed at multiple targets on SARS-CoV-2 to minimize risk of resistance
How pregnancy turns the stress response on its head
Researchers found two simultaneous conditions in pregnancy’s 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 significant inflammation was detected in the fetal brain.
University of Northern Colorado Immunology Expert Discusses COVID-19 Vaccines, Debunks Misinformation
Nick Pullen, Ph.D., an associate professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, shares his expertise on the COVID-19 vaccines and debunks some of the myths surrounding them.