New research suggests obesity may leave a long-lasting “memory” on the immune system, even years after weight loss. Researchers have found that obesity may leave a lasting biological “memory” in the immune system, potentially increasing the risk of obesity-related diseases years after a person loses weight. The findings come from a decade-long study published in [...]
Scientists just uncovered how the immune system’s killer cells strike cancer with microscopic precision. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes serve as the immune system’s specialized “killer” cells, targeting and eliminating infected or cancerous cells with remarkable accuracy. Their effectiveness depends on a tightly controlled contact point known as the “immune synapse,” where they release toxic molecules…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising overlap between cancer genetics and Alzheimer’s disease, involving mutations in the brain’s immune cells. As we age, our cells quietly collect genetic mutations—most of them harmless, some potentially dangerous. But what if the same kinds of mutations that fuel cancer are also shaping diseases of the brain? A new study [...]
Researchers found that certain immune cells, genes, and the drug metformin may help keep HIV dormant after treatment stops, offering new paths toward long-term control. For millions of people living with HIV, taking daily medication is essential for life. If treatment stops, the virus typically returns within weeks. However, some rare individuals can control the [...]
Researchers have found that common food ingredients can interact inside immune cells in ways that significantly enhance each other’s anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation often develops quietly, without obvious symptoms in its early stages. Over time, however, this persistent immune activity can contribute to serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease,…
Why do diabetic wounds refuse to heal? A new scientific review highlights how disruptions in the timing and behavior of immune cells may hold the key to understanding this widespread medical challenge. Chronic diabetic ulcers are among the most serious and costly complications associated with diabetes. More than 131 million people around the world are [...]
Hormone-regulated immune cells produce IL-10 to resolve pain more effectively in males, offering a potential new target for non-opioid chronic pain treatments. Chronic pain often lingers longer in women than in men. A new study suggests that differences in immune cells known as monocytes could be a key reason. These cells are regulated in part [...]
Scientists uncover a new “recipe” that shows how exhausted T cells can be reprogrammed to regain their ability to attack tumors. When cancer or a stubborn infection keeps the immune system in a prolonged fight, some of its most important soldiers can lose steam. A new study from teams at the Salk Institute for Biological [...]