All articles tagged with #immunology
UCLA researchers found creatine boosts dendritic cell activity and energy, enhancing the immune system's ability to activate killer T cells against tumors; in mice and human cells, creatine slowed melanoma growth and improved dendritic cell vaccines, suggesting potential to strengthen cancer immunotherapy, though human trials are still needed and safety considerations apply.
A Verge interview/profile of Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatric allergist/immunologist who uses TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to counter health misinformation and empower viewers to think critically about health claims. He stresses that uncertainty is a strength of science and that misinformation spreads quickly online, posing a major challenge. Rubin aims to bring the doctor’s office discussions to a wider audience, drawing on his book All About Allergies and collaboration with fellow clinician Dr. Idrees Mughal, while urging improved scientific literacy and clearer, transparent communication from scientists to maintain public trust.
A mouse study suggests that after menopause the ovaries don’t simply shut down; they take on an immune-like role, filling with immune cells and driving chronic low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) that could raise the risk of age-related diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, arthritis and cancer.
A UT Health San Antonio team found that supplementing the gut bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, depleted in lupus, reduced lupus biomarkers and protected organs in mouse lupus models. The bacterium improved fiber digestion, boosted anti-inflammatory cells, and normalized gut barriers, suggesting a potential probiotic approach for lupus. However, F. prausnitzii is oxygen-sensitive and not a lasting probiotic, so researchers will investigate how its metabolites interact with the immune system and how diet influences its levels before considering human applications. The study, published in Nature Communications, marks the first demonstration that restoring this bacterium can mitigate lupus-related dysfunction in animals.
Researchers found that the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis makes a CARDIB protein that normally suppresses certain immune signals, but is essential for mounting an effective antiviral response. CRISPR-edited anemones lacking CARDIB were more vulnerable, while CARDIB-expressing animals survived better in real estuary conditions, suggesting a 648-million-year-old, independently evolved antiviral mechanism with potential implications for medicine.
Immunopeptidomics identified 453 Plasmodium vivax–derived peptides presented by HLA class I on Pv-infected reticulocytes, mapping to 166 parasite proteins. About 75 housekeeping antigens are conserved across Plasmodium species; identical peptides are presented by multiple HLA alleles, including HLA-E. Antigenicity validated in Pv- and Pf-infected humans, with T cell responses observed in blood and liver of non-human primates; two antigens also conferred protective CD8+ T cell immunity in mice. These cross-stage, cross-species antigens hold promise for a universal malaria vaccine. Data are available via ProteomeXchange (PXD077321).
AbbVie is nearing an $11 billion cash deal to acquire Apogee Therapeutics, in what would be its biggest bolt-on in years, paying about $10.9 billion — roughly a 60% premium — for Apogee and its lead inflammatory-disease drug zumilokibart, to bolster AbbVie’s immunology portfolio as Humira faces biosimilar competition.
Biogen announced a definitive agreement to acquire RayThera Inc. for up to $1 billion, adding multiple small-molecule immunology assets including a lead candidate set to enter Phase 1 in early Q3 2026. Biogen will lead development, manufacturing and global commercialization after closing, which is anticipated in Q3 2026, with an upfront payment and milestone payments contingent on clinical/regulatory milestones, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Researchers identify GPR15 as a marker and homing receptor for a mucosal subset of CD8+ regulatory T cells (CD8+ TIGR) that suppress intestinal inflammation. In humans, GPR15 variants that impair this homing are linked to severe early-onset IBD, and CD8+ TIGR are reduced in sporadic IBD. In mice, GPR15 deficiency hampers colonic homing of these cells, leading to inflammatory macrophage accumulation; CD8+ TIGR can kill activated macrophages via FasL and TWEAK, highlighting a potential new immunotherapeutic avenue for IBD.
MIT and Harvard Medical School researchers link fever-related easing of autism-like symptoms to IL-17a, an immune signal that calms overactive brain circuits in mice; they showed IL-17a injections into the brain improved symptoms without fever and plan a human biomarker biobank to pursue therapies that mimic the fever effect.
Lowering MHC I on cancer cells makes them more susceptible to ferroptosis driven by CD4+ T cells, revealing that the MHC I pathway can support CD4+ T cell–mediated immunity and challenging the classic CD4+/CD8+ division; these findings could guide new immunotherapies and bone marrow transplant strategies, especially for tumors that escape CD8+ T cell responses.
Researchers mapped the evolution of blood cells across animals, revealing a 700‑million‑year link between modern blood cells and unicellular ancestors. Macrophages show the strongest similarity to these early cells, and the FOS gene traces back to a unicellular origin, suggesting first blood cells arose as multicellular life emerged. Over time, mast cells, T cells, red blood cells, and B cells branched from these roots. The new method reconstructs a 700‑million‑year blood‑cell family tree and could help study disease origins, including cancer.
A mouse study finds aging CD8+ T cells circulating in the blood promote cognitive ageing by secreting an enzyme that inflames the brain and impairs regeneration; blocking their blood-borne effects improved memory and learning in old mice, suggesting a practical blood-targeted approach to mitigate age-related cognitive decline. Parabiosis and cell-transfer experiments indicate these non-infiltrating T cells drive ageing, and aged cells can dampen memory-related gene expression in young brains.
Pregnancy prompts the gut to elongate and expand its lining to boost nutrient uptake, and new work discussed in Nature’s News & Views suggests these gut changes are coordinated with fetal wellbeing through maternal immune remodeling, revealing a protective link between the mother’s intestinal adaptation and the developing baby.
Researchers used cryo-expansion microscopy to preserve near-native cell structure and visualize cytotoxic T lymphocytes at the immune synapse in 3D, revealing a dome-shaped contact interface and variations in cytotoxic granules. Extending the technique to human tumor tissues, the team could observe T cells infiltrating tumors and deploying their killing machinery at nanometer-scale resolution, offering insights that could guide improvements in immuno-oncology therapies.