LIAI Researchers Uncover Key Elements of Immune System Function; New Understanding Could Lead to Better Vaccines and Treatments.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers BIOWIRE2K SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 9, 2003 Researchers at La Jolla La Jolla (lə hoi`yə), on the Pacific Ocean, S Calif., an uninc. district within the confines of San Diego; founded 1869. The beautiful ocean beaches, in particular La Jolla shores and Black's Beach, and sea-washed caves attract visitors and Allergy & Immunology (LIAI LIAI Love in Action International ) have uncovered clues that may help to develop more effective vaccines and possibly lead to treatments for a number of other diseases including cancer. In a paper (CD4+ T Cells T cells A type of white blood cell produced in the thymus gland. T cells are an important part of the immune system. Infants born with an underdeveloped or absent thymus do not have a normal level of T cells in their blood. Are Required for Secondary Expansion and Memory in CD8+ T Lymphocytes, Nature, February 2003) published today in the scientific journal Nature, Stephen P. Schoenberger, Ph.D., and a team of LIAI researchers shed light on just how the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. responds to disease-causing pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. The LIAI team found that certain T cells (CD8 killer cells) in the body can make an immediate response to invading pathogens, but it takes a second type of T cell, called a CD4 helper T cell helper T cell Helper T lymphocyte, CD4+ T cell Immunology A subset of T lymphocytes with the antigen determinant CD4, which are presented with a foreign antigen in the context of both a self MHC class II antigen and IL-1; once immune recognition or response occurs, , to create memory cells. Memory cells recognize and respond to repeated infections by the same pathogen and are essential in producing the long-term immunity sought from a vaccine. Also CD4 helper T cells are the cells that are targeted and eventually eliminated by HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. , the virus that causes AIDS. This may help to explain why the CD8 T cells do not effectively protect people infected with HIV. "Once we know how these helper cells work to stimulate the killers, researchers can use that knowledge to create more effective and safer vaccines," said Schoenberger. "At some point, they may be able to use this knowledge to create very specific immunizations for diseases such as cancer." Schoenberger and his team were able to make their observations in vivo in vivo /in vi·vo/ (ve´vo) [L.] within the living body. in vi·vo adj. Within a living organism. in vivo adv. (within a living organism) using CD4-intact and CD4-deficient mice. Mice with intact CD4 cells were able to respond to a repeat exposure to a vaccination by producing a five-fold increase in the number of CD8 killer cells. Those lacking helper T cells were unable to make the same response. "Our results provide new insight into the nature of T-cell help by demonstrating the helper cells are absolutely required for a repeat response to an antigen, but not for the initial response," Schoenberger said. La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology is a non-profit, public benefit corporation conducting basic medical research on various diseases of the immune system, including diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, allergy and infectious diseases. The institute's research staff includes approximately 100 Ph.Ds. Note to Editors: In the first sentence of the second paragraph, the "+" in "CD4+" and "CD8+" should be read as superscript Any letter, digit or symbol that appears above the line. For example, 10 to the 9th power is written with the 9 in superscript (109). Contrast with subscript. . |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion