Immune System
Study links GDF3 signaling in aging macrophages to heightened inflammation and worse outcomes in infection models
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University of Minnesota researchers report that older mice’s macrophages can become locked in an inflammatory state through an autocrine signaling loop involving the protein GDF3 and the transcription factors SMAD2/3. In experiments, genetic deletion of Gdf3 or drugs that interfered with the pathway reduced inflammatory responses and improved survival in older endotoxemia models, while human cohort data linked higher GDF3 levels with markers of inflammation.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have found that breast cancer quickly disrupts the brain's internal clock in mice, flattening daily stress hormone cycles and impairing immune responses. Remarkably, restoring these rhythms in specific brain neurons shrank tumors without any drugs. The discovery highlights how early physiological imbalances may worsen cancer outcomes.
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Researchers at the University of Southampton have created a new class of antibodies designed to strengthen the immune system's attack on cancer cells. These antibodies cluster receptors on T cells to amplify activation signals that tumors typically weaken. Early laboratory tests indicate they outperform standard antibodies in mobilizing cancer-killing immune cells.
Researchers at the University of Utah have found that anxiety in mice is regulated by two groups of microglia, immune cells that act as accelerators and brakes. This discovery challenges the traditional focus on neurons for mental health issues. The findings, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggest potential new approaches to treating anxiety disorders.
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New studies reveal that preserving lymph nodes during cancer surgery could improve patient responses to immunotherapy by supporting key immune cells. Led by the Peter Doherty Institute, the research emphasizes lymph nodes' crucial function in training T cells to fight tumors. The findings, published in Nature Immunology, suggest rethinking surgical practices to boost treatment effectiveness.