Natural Killer Cells News and Research

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FDA approval of Anktiva heralds a new era in the treatment of BCG-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the immunotherapy-boosting drug N-803, which is marketed under the brand name Anktiva, to be used in combination with the immunotherapy Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for the treatment of patients with BCG-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

23 Apr 2024

Aging affects immune response and virus dynamics in COVID-19 patients, study finds

A study examining 1031 hospitalized COVID-19 patients found that aging significantly impacts immune responses, viral dynamics, and the nasal microbiome, with older adults experiencing more severe disease symptoms and delayed viral clearance.

18 Apr 2024

Exposure to high heat may increase inflammation and interfere with immune system functions

Short-term exposure to higher heat may increase inflammation and interfere with normal immune system functions in the body, which may, in turn, increase susceptibility to infections and accelerate the progression of cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention│Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Scientific Sessions 2024, March 18- 21, in Chicago.

19 Mar 2024

Natural killer cells lead the charge in cancer treatment innovation

Review synthesizes research on NK cells' role in cancer immunity and their potential in therapeutics through bioengineering, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and cell engagers, highlighting ongoing preclinical and clinical trials.

22 Feb 2024

Higher prepandemic physical activity levels associated with lower odds of developing and being hospitalized for COVID-19

Researchers explored the possible link between pre-pandemic activity levels in American adults over 45 and their likelihood of developing and being hospitalized for COVID-19.

15 Feb 2024

Cytokine interferon-gamma can be a disease-modifying therapeutic target in multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease, where insoluble inclusions of the protein alpha-synuclein appear in oligodendrocyte cells of the brain.

12 Feb 2024

Study reveals "dormancy" of natural killer cells in tumors

Some immune cells in our bodies see their 'killer instinct' restricted after entering solid tumours, according to new research.

5 Feb 2024

Lab-grown mini-placentas shed light on pre-eclampsia and pregnancy disorders

Scientists have grown 'mini-placentas' in the lab and used them to shed light on how the placenta develops and interacts with the inner lining of the womb – findings that could help scientists better understand and, in future, potentially treat pre-eclampsia.

17 Jan 2024

Are pan-coronavirus vaccines an achievable goal in providing broad protection against human coronaviruses?

The current achievements in the development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine.

3 Jan 2024

Scientists develop a method for tracking cellular events over time in living organisms

While physicists continue to argue about whether time is indeed an illusion, as Albert Einstein claimed, biologists have no doubt about its significance for understanding life as a dynamic system.

21 Dec 2023

Study suggests possible targets for the development of a vaccine against multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is thought to play a role that has not yet been fully clarified.

14 Dec 2023

IFNγ identified as crucial for reducing pulmonary viral loads in COVID-19, new research shows

The role of type-2 interferon (IFNγ) in antiviral immunity.

14 Dec 2023

Potential breakthrough in breast cancer: Five proteins identified as risk markers

Researchers used a Mendelian randomization approach to conduct a genetic association analysis of the levels of over 3,000 proteins to identify biomarkers for early breast cancer detection.

28 Nov 2023

Weakened innate immunity may increase risk of severe COVID-19

During severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, activated macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells are the first defense against infection.

24 Oct 2023

Strengthening the immune system to fight cytomegalovirus on its own

Some viruses can be dormant throughout a person's life and cause no harm but become dangerous when the immune system is weakened.

17 Oct 2023

Yale researchers uncover key role of protein CXCR4 in pregnancy

Immune cells play a key role during pregnancy, adjusting immune system response in a way that enables the fetus to develop while also protecting the parent and fetus from outside assaults like viruses.

10 Oct 2023

Researchers discover a vulnerability in immunotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center have discovered a druggable target on natural killer cells that could potentially trigger a therapeutic response in patients with immunotherapy-resistant, triple-negative breast cancer.

5 Oct 2023

Stem cell therapy shows promise in treating COVID-19 complications

The use of cell therapy to treat COVID-19 patients can reduce the risk of death from the disease by 60%, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, in partnership with colleagues in Germany and the United States.

19 Sep 2023

New oral agent shows promise in treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma

A new agent that subverts myeloma cells from within while also subjecting them to an immune system attack produced impressive responses in combination with dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma that had relapsed and stopped responding to all currently available therapies, a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and around the world has found.

30 Aug 2023

Immunotherapy after stem cell transplantation effectively combats certain childhood nerve tumors

Scientists at St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute and the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen have shown that immunotherapy after stem cell transplantation effectively combats certain nerve tumors in children.

9 Aug 2023