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...
Cancer is a complex puzzle, with each type having its own set of rules. To crack this code, scientists need to understand how genes and the immune system interact. This is where TCGAimmunosurv comes in. It's a tool designed to make sense of vast amounts of data from cancer patients. This tool does something special. It looks at the big picture and the tiny details. ...
Pet allergies are more common than you might think. They affect a big chunk of people worldwide. The culprits aren't the fur, but tiny proteins in an animal's skin, saliva, or urine. These allergens can stick around for weeks, even after a pet is gone. Living with pets might actually lower allergy risks for kids. Early exposure seems to train the immune system to ha...
The immune system and man-made materials work together in a big way to help heal broken bones. Calcium phosphate (CaP) materials, like hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate, are often used as bone replacements. They are good at helping new bone grow, but scientists are still figuring out how to make them even better. One big problem is that these materials don't...
Seaweed is packed with complex sugars, like laminarins, which can act like prebiotics. These sugars can help feed good bacteria in the gut. A study looked into how feeding seaweed products from Saccharina latissima to chickens or their parent hens could affect the chickens' growth, gut health, and immune system. The experiment started with 45 hens. These hens were g...
Ankylosing spondylitis is a complex condition. It affects the spine and joints, causing pain and stiffness. It is a chronic disease. It can be tough to manage. Researchers have been looking into how aging might play a role in making this condition worse. They are exploring the connections between aging and the disease. This could lead to new treatments. The focus is...