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Study uncovers how tumors backfire on neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Some patients with breast cancer receive chemotherapy before the tumor is removed with surgery. This approach, called 'neoadjuvant' therapy, helps to reduce the size of the tumor to facilitate breast-conserving surgery, and can even eradicate the tumor, leaving few or no cancerous cells for the surgeon to remove.

2 Jan 2019

Scientists discover cellular mechanism that triggers pneumonia in humans

The situation is relatively common, especially in winter. You come down with the flu, which lasts longer than usual. A few days later, you discover you have pneumonia.

10 Dec 2018

Eliminating microglia can reverse some aspects of stress sensitization, study shows

Using an animal model of chronic stress, researchers at The Ohio State University have shown that the immune cells of the brain, called microglia, hold unique signatures of chronic stress that leave the animal more sensitive to future stressful experiences, evident by increased anxiety and immune responses.

4 Dec 2018

First modeling system developed for testing age-specific human immune responses to vaccines

A team of scientists at Boston Children's Hospital has developed the first modeling system for testing age-specific human immune responses to vaccines -- outside the body. The practical, cost-effective new platform, using all human components, is expected to accelerate and de-risk the development, assessment and selection of vaccines.

20 Nov 2018

Replacement of dysfunctional microglia has therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases

A new study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet supports the theory that replacement of dysfunctional immune cells in the brain has therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer's disease.

19 Nov 2018

New findings highlight importance of inflammatory component in atherosclerosis pathogenesis

One of the main characteristics of atherosclerosis is the accumulation of lipids in the intimal layer of the arterial wall.

29 Oct 2018

Targeting specific signaling pathway could provide new avenue for treating fetal alcohol syndrome

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are an array of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome, the most severe of these conditions, often results in physical abnormalities, behavioral development issues and intellectual disabilities.

24 Oct 2018

Potential 'early warning markers' for sepsis discovered

A multi-site research collaboration supported by a Technology Strategy Board Grant has shown that immune response signatures could be used as an early warning test for the serious condition sepsis in patients attending emergency departments with suspected infection.

15 Oct 2018

Ritual for orthodox Jewish men may offer cardiovascular health benefits, study suggests

A pilot study led by researchers at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine suggests Jewish men who practice wearing tefillin, which involves the tight wrapping of an arm with leather banding as part of daily prayer, may receive cardiovascular health benefits.

11 Oct 2018

Study analyzes distribution of two cytokines in sections of carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Inflammation is currently a well-documented component of atheroslcerosis pathogenesis, which plays a role at each stage of the disease development.

6 Oct 2018

Study: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are immunologically disparate at birth

Neonatal concentrations of eight detectable inflammatory markers were significantly different in children later diagnosed with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared with controls.

14 Sep 2018

Study reveals mechanisms underlying inflammatory response in the brain associated with fever

Researchers from Kanazawa University report in Journal of Neuroscience performed a microdialysis study on mice to determine mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response in the brain associated with fever that might be used to develop new strategies for treatment.

31 Aug 2018

Newly discovered target may prevent progression of liver injury to cancer

Problems like obesity and alcoholism appear to chronically trigger in the liver a receptor known to amplify inflammation in response to invaders like bacteria, scientists report.

27 Aug 2018

Study provides new insights into how the human immune system protects against Ebola infections

Two types of human antibodies that target different parts of the Ebola virus synergize their antiviral effects by inhibiting different steps of infection, according to a study published August 23 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Philipp Ilinykh and colleagues from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Vanderbilt University, and Ragon Institute.

24 Aug 2018

Doxorubicin drug causes heart toxicity by disrupting the immune system

Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug widely used in ovarian, bladder, lung, thyroid and stomach cancers, but it carries a harmful side effect. The drug causes a dose-dependent heart toxicity that can lead to congestive heart failure.

7 Aug 2018

New TSPO-targeted PET imaging more fully evaluates extent of rheumatoid arthritis

A new positron emission tomography imaging method more fully evaluates the extent of rheumatoid arthritis by targeting translocator protein expression in the synovium (joint lining tissue).

10 Jul 2018

Nanofiber-based wound dressings loaded with vitamin D spur production of antimicrobial peptide

Nanofiber-based wound dressings loaded with vitamin D spur the production of an antimicrobial peptide, a key step forward in the battle against surgical site infections, or SSIs.

6 Jul 2018

Seeing the Unexpected: Regulatory T Cells and Basophils

Dr. Jagadeesh Bayry from INSERM discusses his recent research in the field of immunology, and how T regulatory cells activate, rather than suppress, basophils.

4 Jul 2018

New test can identify ICU patients at greatest risk of secondary infections

Patients in intensive care units are at significant risk of potentially life-threatening secondary infections, including from antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and C. difficile.

13 Jun 2018

Researchers identify culprit that spurs damaging inflammation following heart attack

Scientists have zeroed in on a culprit that spurs damaging inflammation in the heart following a heart attack. The guilty party is a type of immune cell that tries to heal the injured heart but instead triggers inflammation that leads to even more damage.

8 Jun 2018