Tag Archives: T-cells
Another prince awakened Sleeping Beauty?
Tumor suppressor genes are one of the body’s defenses against uncontrolled growth of tumor cells. When these genes are ‘silenced,’ or prevented from doing their work, the abnormal cells grow unchecked, usually with fatal consequences to the
CD164 helps physicians to diagnose and treat cancer in Sézary Syndrome
Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) represent malignancies of the T-lymphocytes that go to or reside in the skin. Roughly 50% of all CTCL cases are Sézary Syndrome and Mycosis Fungoides. The typical external manifestation of the disease is
Focusing on non-tumor-derived factors for leukemia therapy
Approximately 10-20 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), and 1-3% of HTLV-I-infected individuals develop a cancer of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the blood each year. The retrovirus-associated
B cells to the rescue: regulatory B cells are a promising therapeutic target for autoimmune disease
Immune cells are indispensable for protecting us from microbial infections. They recognize specific patterns on microbes to mount robust cellular and molecular immune responses for the clearance of pathogens. Intriguingly, development and function of these cells is
How the immune system is regulated by small RNAs called microRNAs to prevent self-attacks leading to autoimmunity
The ability to properly engage the different arms of the immune response is essential for protection from pathogens but also for preventing autoimmune reactions against normal tissue. Central to autoimmune prevention are a class of white blood
Blocking miR-212/132 in T cells is a potential therapy for treating colitis
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is thought to be caused by aberrant immune response to host intestinal microbiota, leading inflammation in gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, anemia,
The thymus: a small organ with a mighty big function
The thymus lies in the chest behind the breastbone and above the heart. Relatively large in infancy, it increases in size until puberty and thereafter shrinks to only a few grams in old age. It consists of
A functional immune system against cancer in breast cancer patients
One of the hallmarks of cancer development is the ability of tumor cells to evade the recognition by the host immune system. However, the presence of immune responses against cancer is frequently observed in cancer patients. The
Computational refinement and validation protocol for proteins
HIV protects itself using a membrane layer of lipids which covers all proteins which could potentially be targeted by drugs. The only exposed proteins, gp120 and gp41 form spikes that protrude out of the lipid membrane. These
A novel hepatitis C DNA vaccine
Since their development, vaccines have reduced the global burden of disease. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes persistent infection and is a leading cause of liver disease. To date, no vaccine is currently available, and treatment is costly
Evolution of innate T cells
As a part of adaptive immunity, T cells identify and respond to products or antigens derived from pathogens. These antigens are seen by T cells in the form of short fragments or peptides presented by classical major
Prostate cancer: prognostic impact of adenosine-generating CD73
Traditionally, most cancers were treated with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy (or a combination of these options). Using the immune system to fight cancer has long been the objective of many researchers, but convincing success in the clinic
Selectively killing T-cells in multiple sclerosis: A brainy approach
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that often afflicts young people. The nerve fibres in the brain, which transmit the electrical impulses that control many of the common functions of the
