All articles tagged with #immune cells
A decades‑old medication has shown in early studies the ability to reprogram white blood cells and improve blood sugar control in type 1 diabetes, signaling a potential new therapeutic avenue that will require larger clinical trials to confirm efficacy and safety.
Scientists trained 34 pigeons to navigate a 12‑mile route and found iron‑rich immune cells in the liver may act as an internal magnetic compass, helping them sense Earth's magnetic field when visual cues are blocked by clouds. Pigeons depleted of these cells got lost under overcast skies, while birds with normal iron stores completed the route; after the cells naturally repopulated, navigation improved again. The cells display superparamagnetism and may relay directional information to the brain via nerves from the liver. While some scientists praise the possible new mechanism of magnetic perception, others call for more direct evidence before drawing firm conclusions. The research team plans to further investigate how immune cells communicate with the nervous system and to track pigeons globally to learn more about their navigation skills.
A study analyzing normal breast tissue from 527 women (over 3 million cells) created a detailed map of how breast tissue changes with age, finding dramatic remodeling around menopause—shrinking milk-producing lobules, fewer epithelial and immune cells, increased fat, and a shift to a tissue environment that can better support cancer development. Younger breasts had more cancer-fighting B- and T-cells, while older breast tissue showed fewer of these cells and more pro-cancer immune cells like M2 macrophages, helping explain why breast cancer risk rises with age. The work, published in Nature Aging, underscores how aging tissue and immune landscape contribute to cancer susceptibility.
New immunology research links specific immune-cell patterns and two genes (DDIT4 and ZNF254) to longer ART-free control of HIV; metformin can activate one of these mechanisms to keep HIV dormant, delaying or potentially preventing rebound after treatment interruption. Analyses of ART-interruption trials showed higher levels of stem cell–memory CD8+ T cells and certain natural killer cells associated with slower rebound. This supports a block-and-lock strategy using metformin or similar drugs, with preclinical and clinical testing planned by the HOPE Collaboratory to pursue HIV silencing while reducing inflammation.
New research shows leftover fragments from SARS-CoV-2 form protein pieces that bind to curved membranes on immune cells, suppressing dendritic cells and T cells and potentially driving long-COVID; Omicron fragments appear less damaging to these cells, highlighting variant differences while underscoring ongoing COVID risks and the value of vaccination.
Researchers found that immune cells formed in inflamed psoriasis skin can migrate into the bloodstream and travel to joints, where they encounter fibroblasts and ignite inflammation leading to psoriatic arthritis. The study explains why only some psoriasis patients develop arthritis and suggests blood-d detectable migratory cells could serve as an early warning, with future therapies aiming to intercept these cells before joint damage occurs.
Single-cell methylome and chromatin-accessibility analysis across 171 PBMC samples shows that genetic variation and environmental exposures independently shape immune cell epigenomes, with exposure- and genotype-associated regions showing distinct genomic enrichments (eDMRs at enhancers, gDMRs in gene bodies); colocalization of meQTLs with disease GWAS signals provides cell-type-specific insights into how genetics and environment influence health and disease.
New research shows that immune cells shed a sugar-rich surface layer called glycocalyx to enter inflamed skin in psoriasis, challenging previous beliefs and opening new avenues for treatment targeting immune cell migration.
A recent study shows that regular orange juice consumption affects thousands of genes in immune cells, reducing inflammation, blood pressure, and insulin resistance, which may benefit long-term heart health.
New research indicates that tattoo ink rapidly moves into the lymphatic system, causing immune cell death and inflammation, which can affect vaccine responses and potentially increase risks of lymphoma and skin cancers, raising concerns about tattoo ink safety and regulation.
New research reveals that immune cells shed their glycocalyx layer to facilitate movement into tissues during inflammation, challenging previous beliefs that only blood vessel walls modify their glycocalyx, which could influence future treatments for inflammatory diseases like psoriasis.
A study in mice suggests that engineered 'young' immune cells can partly reverse Alzheimer's symptoms and improve brain health by reducing inflammation and supporting memory-related cells, although further research is needed to confirm effects in humans.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin discovered that applying electrical currents to macrophages can reprogram them to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing, offering a promising new approach for treating injuries and inflammatory diseases.
Scientists at Cedars-Sinai developed lab-created young immune cells from human stem cells that reversed signs of aging and Alzheimer's in mice, showing potential for future human therapies to improve brain health and memory.
A study published in Nature shows that pregnancy and breastfeeding promote the accumulation of specialized immune cells called CD8+ T cells in the breast, which can reduce the risk of breast cancer and improve survival rates, with effects lasting for decades.