Agencies
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Agencies | Updated : February 29, 2016 9:56 AM IST
Researchers from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia claimed to have discovered how a protein works to boost the body's natural-killing immune cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell which hunts and destroys foreign cells in the body, including tumours, breast and colon cancer and melanoma cells.
The study which was published in the journal Immunity states that a protein called "ID2" works as a switch that can also be manipulated to fight viral infections or to help patients whose immune systems have not developed properly because their bodies lack natural killer cells.It works by allowing natural killer cells to become responsive to growth factors in the blood, called Interleukin -15 (IL-15) that keep the natural killer cells active and alive.
Using the growth factor, IL-15, the immune deficiencies in cells can be conquered by 'tricking' the immune cells into becoming natural killer cells, the researchers explained. Lead researcher Nick Huntington says, The real paradigm shift is that we can now make natural killer cells appear even when this switch is missing, purely by supplying more growth factor to the specific environment -- we can push cells to become natural killer cells. It's a really novel biological discovery.
Conversely, the natural killer cell switch could also potentially be turned off in instances in which these cells proved damaging, such as when they prompt the rejection of donor stem cells in bone marrow transplants or produce signals that result in the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome. Read: Some heart disease drugs and antibiotics may fight cancer
Source: IANS
Image Source: Shutterstock
