Imagine a system designed to protect you, but sometimes it goes rogue. That's what happens in autoimmune diseases. These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Lupus, often called the disease of 1, 000 faces, is one such condition. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, from rashes and swelling to severe pain and organ dama...
Your immune system might be aging faster than you realize, even if you feel fit and healthy. As people get older, their immune cells struggle to fight infections, heal wounds, and destroy cancer cells. This decline often starts in the late 30s or early 40s. One big reason for this decline is inflammation, which speeds up aging and makes the immune system weaker. Sig...
A sneaky parasite called Toxoplasma gondii is hiding in the brains of millions of people, and most don't even know it's there. This tiny invader is usually harmless, but for those with weakened immune systems, it can be dangerous. Scientists have been studying this parasite to find a way to stop it without causing harm to the human body. The parasite is closely link...
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which played a big role in saving lives during the pandemic, might also have a surprising benefit: helping the immune system fight cancer. This idea came from a study that looked at how these vaccines affect patients with certain types of cancer. The study focused on patients with late-stage melanoma and lung cancer who were receiving a t...
In the intricate world of the brain, tiny immune system proteins named C1q and C3 are stirring up trouble. Normally, these proteins are the brain's protectors. However, in epilepsy, they turn against the brain. They disrupt the brain's connections, leading to excessive brain activity and seizures. Researchers decided to investigate if halting C1q could be a game-cha...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a persistent condition that harms joints and can lead to disability. Genes are a significant factor in determining who develops RA. One particular gene, HLA-G, is crucial in managing immune responses and inflammation. Think of it as a director for the immune system, guiding it on when to act and when to pause. A recent study focused on t...
Stress is often seen as a villain, but what if it has a hidden superpower? Recent studies on zebrafish reveal that stress can actually boost skin immunity. Here's how it works: when zebrafish feel stressed, a hormone called cortisol kicks in. This hormone activates a chemical called Cxcr4 through two receptors. But there's a catch—this process needs melanocytes, the ...
Cancer can hide in the body for years, like a silent sleeper. Now, scientists have found that catching the flu or COVID-19 might wake these sleeping cancer cells up. This isn't just about feeling sick for a while. It's about how these viruses can cause trouble long after you're better. Researchers did experiments on mice and looked at health records of people who ha...
The body's defense system against cancer is a complex battlefield. Among the soldiers are CD8+ T cells, which play a crucial role in controlling tumors and responding to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies. But not all CD8+ T cells are the same. Some are like seasoned veterans, while others are like fresh recruits. Understanding the differences between these c...
The world of tiny organisms, or microbes, is having a big impact on cancer. These microbes live in and on our bodies, and they can change how our immune system fights cancer. The area around a tumor, called the tumor microenvironment, is a busy place. It's full of cancer cells, immune cells, and other stuff that can either help or hurt the tumor. Some microbes can m...