Immune System News and Research

RSS

Increasing levels of FGF21 hormone protects against loss of immune function in the elderly

A hormone that extends lifespan in mice by 40% is produced by specialized cells in the thymus gland, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers. The team also found that increasing the levels of this hormone, called FGF21, protects against the loss of immune function that comes with age.

12 Jan 2016

New article suggests that playing American football may contribute to hypertension

As National Football League playoff games are underway, a new article published in the "Hypotheses" section of the January 2016 issue of The FASEB Journal, suggests that the toll the sport takes on players' bodies extends beyond head trauma and damage to limbs and joints. The trauma and damage associated with football participation may also be linked to elevations in blood pressure through immune system activation and inflammation.

12 Jan 2016

Common painkiller diclofenac has significant anti-cancer properties

Diclofenac, a common painkiller, has significant anti-cancer properties, according to researchers from the Repurposing Drugs in Oncology project.

12 Jan 2016

Researchers take major step towards developing vaccine for river blindness

The world's first vaccine for a disease that causes misery for millions in Africa could be tested within five years.

12 Jan 2016

Novel anti-inflammatory agents could control hyper-inflammatory responses to fungal infection

The most frequent fungal threat to humans, Candida albicans, is a common cause oral and genital infection. The fungal infections are often worsened by overwhelming inflammatory responses in the body and cause high mortality among risk groups. Umeå University doctoral student Ava Hosseinzadeh has discovered two novel anti-inflammatory agents, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory molecule, which could be used to control the hyper-inflammatory responses to the fungal infection.

12 Jan 2016

Excess folic acid intake causes lowered immune function in aged mice

Previous studies have shown an association between high folic acid intake and a reduction in the immune system defenses needed to fight viral infections and cancer. In a new study in mice published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University set out to determine if excess folic acid intake caused adverse changes in the immune system.

12 Jan 2016

MD Anderson signs collaborative research and development agreement with Enumeral

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced that it has entered into a collaborative research and development agreement with Enumeral Biomedical Holdings Inc.

12 Jan 2016

Blocking brain inflammation could protect against memory, behaviour changes

A University of Southampton-led study has found that blocking a receptor in the brain responsible for regulating immune cells could protect against the memory and behaviour changes seen in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

11 Jan 2016

F-star signs agreement with AbbVie to discover, develop bispecific antibodies in immuno-oncology

F-star today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with AbbVie to research and develop bispecific antibodies in immuno-oncology. Financial terms were not disclosed.

11 Jan 2016

UA researchers find genetic mutations associated with respiratory disease

Asthma affects more than 278 million people worldwide and can lead to serious consequences later in life. While current approved therapies address symptoms, they do not halt disease progression.

11 Jan 2016

UVA's brain discovery hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs

A shocking discovery about the human brain made at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is being hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs by numerous year-end lists, including those compiled by Scientific American, Science, The Huffington Post and the National Institutes of Health.

11 Jan 2016

CTCA at Western announces launch of Phase II NivoPlus clinical trial

Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear, Arizona, has announced the launch of Phase II of the NivoPlus clinical trial, which combines the immunotherapeutic agent nivolumab with chemotherapy drugs irinotecan and capecitabine.

11 Jan 2016

Salk Institute scientists find new target for glioblastoma multiforme treatment

Glioblastoma multiforme is a particularly deadly cancer. A person diagnosed with this type of brain tumor typically survives 15 months, if given the best care. The late Senator Ted Kennedy succumbed to this disease in just over a year.

11 Jan 2016

Virginia Tech scientists find potential way to influence memory formation in the immune system

Scientists at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute have found a potential way to influence long-term memory formation in the immune system. The researchers published their results today in Nature Communications.

11 Jan 2016

New project aims to develop CAR-T cell immuno-oncology cellular therapy for solid tumours

The Cell Therapy Catapult, the UK organisation dedicated to the growth of the UK cell and gene therapy industry by bridging the gap between scientific research and commercialisation, the University of Birmingham and Cancer Research Technology, the commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK, announces today the launch of a collaboration to develop a new immuno-oncology cellular therapy based on gene modifying T cells to target solid tumours.

8 Jan 2016

Elsevier's new open access journal features novel method to make cancer clinical trials more effective

The first issue of Elsevier's new open access journal Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications features a new method to make cancer clinical trials more effective, a better way of determining whether a trial was successful and a dashboard that helps patients enroll in trials.

7 Jan 2016

DNA damage may lead to mutation and changes in cell

A team of researchers from Colorado State University has been studying DNA damage in living cells to learn more about how genetic abnormalities arise. It has long been known that DNA molecules in every cell get constantly damaged by things from the outside environment, like sunlight, cigarette smoke and radiation. However, more recently researchers have discovered that sources from within the cell itself can sometimes be even more damaging.

7 Jan 2016

Scientists find genetic link to unexplained heart failure affecting pregnant women

Scientists have found that women who suffer unexplained heart failure towards the end of pregnancy or shortly after giving birth share certain genetic changes.

7 Jan 2016

Drexel biomedical engineer identifies immune cell as potential strategy for growing blood vessels

In what could be a pivotal step toward repairing non-healing wounds and damaged organs, a Drexel University biomedical engineer has identified an immune cell as a potential strategy for growing blood vessels.

7 Jan 2016

Insulin-producing cells' mitochondria may represent useful therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes

Factors in the blood from calorie-restricted rats can modify energy-producing mitochondria within the insulin-producing cells that regulate blood sugar levels, new research shows. This has a positive impact on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and protects cells from fatty acid and glucose toxicity.

7 Jan 2016

Immune System News and Research

Increasing levels of FGF21 hormone protects against loss of immune function in the elderly

New article suggests that playing American football may contribute to hypertension

Common painkiller diclofenac has significant anti-cancer properties

Researchers take major step towards developing vaccine for river blindness

Novel anti-inflammatory agents could control hyper-inflammatory responses to fungal infection

Excess folic acid intake causes lowered immune function in aged mice

MD Anderson signs collaborative research and development agreement with Enumeral

Blocking brain inflammation could protect against memory, behaviour changes

F-star signs agreement with AbbVie to discover, develop bispecific antibodies in immuno-oncology

UA researchers find genetic mutations associated with respiratory disease

UVA's brain discovery hailed as one of 2015's biggest scientific breakthroughs

CTCA at Western announces launch of Phase II NivoPlus clinical trial

Salk Institute scientists find new target for glioblastoma multiforme treatment

Virginia Tech scientists find potential way to influence memory formation in the immune system

New project aims to develop CAR-T cell immuno-oncology cellular therapy for solid tumours

Elsevier's new open access journal features novel method to make cancer clinical trials more effective

DNA damage may lead to mutation and changes in cell

Scientists find genetic link to unexplained heart failure affecting pregnant women

Drexel biomedical engineer identifies immune cell as potential strategy for growing blood vessels

Insulin-producing cells' mitochondria may represent useful therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Applications Engineer

Latest News