New Role For Natural Killers Aug 28, 2008
Since that time, a role for NK cells in activating other white blood cells (including T lymphocytes and phagocytes) and in directing how the immune system responds to a wide range of infections has also been established. Because of these properties, NK have been widely regarded as being of benefit in the fight against cancer and infection, and methods to increase NK cell activity underpin a range of new experimental anti-cancer drugs and anti-infectives ... However, a research team in the... (Science Daily)
Genetic Cause Of Innate Resistance To HIV/AIDS Jul 19, 2008
The HLA-B*57 gene codes for a protein normally found on the surface of all body cells that binds the KIR3DL1 and dampens NK cell activity ... As a consequence, the NK cells retain their activity and destroy the virus-infected cells. (Science Daily)
Gastric Surgery May Lower Cancer Risk Jun 23, 2008
Specifically, they measured the number of NK cells and the cells capacity to kill infected cells or tumor cells ... Although the number of NK cells did not increase with surgically induced weight loss, their activity changed, Halpern said ... Before surgery, NK cells mounted a weak immune defense, but after surgery their activity increased by nearly 79 percent, representing an improvement in the effective immune response and, possibly, in the ability to fight cancer and infections. (Newsmax)
New Therapy Kills Human Leukemia Cells in Mice May 20, 2008
The NK cells reduced by 60 percent to 85 percent human acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells in test mice with aggressive human leukemias, according to the study ... Previous efforts like this one, which require the number of NK cells from a single cord blood to be expanded, resulted in ineffective NK cells ... The new technique manages to increase NK cells in cord blood more than 30-fold while allowing the cells to retain their ability to target and kill... (MEDLINEplus)
Antidepressants may help body fight HIV and cancer May 17, 2008
The research emerged from findings that stress and depression impair NK cell function and can accelerate the progress of HIV/ Aids ... NK cells are especially active against viruses ... The research emerged from findings that stress and depression impair NK cell function and can accelerate the progress of HIV/ Aids. (Yahoo News -- Cancer)
Natural Killer Cells In Umbilical Cord Blood Fight Leukemia May 17, 2008
D., assistant professor of pediatrics from the Children's Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson, has shown an effective method for expanding the number of NK cells from a single cord blood unit while retaining the cells' anti-leukemia effects, as presented at the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology annual conference on May 16. Previous efforts to expand cord blood have resulted in ineffective NK cells ... However, Zweidler-McKay and co-senior investigator Elizabeth Shpall, M.D.,... (Science Daily)
Do Antidepressants Enhance Immune Function? May 10, 2008
A group of researchers who have previously found that stress and depression impair NK cell function and accelerate the course of HIV/AIDS are now publishing a new report in Biological Psychiatry. In this study, they recruited both depressed and non-depressed HIV-infected women and studied the ex vivo effects of three drugs, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a substance P antagonist, and a glucocorticoid antagonist, on their NK cell activity ... The scientists found that the SSRI... (Science Daily)
'Fingerprints' Help Find Genes Involved In Differentiation Nov 17, 2007
She and her colleagues caused two of the genes (Zfp105 from the natural killer or NK cell lineage, and Ets2 from the monocyte (white blood cells with a singe nucleus that surround and ingest foreign materials) lineage to overexpress or make more than usual amounts of protein. "They ended up driving differentiation," said Goodell. (Science Daily)
UC researchers land grant to study 'natural killer cells' Oct 5, 2007
"We aren't sure if NK cell deficiencies in MS cause the disease, or if the disease causes the deficiencies," Bielekova said in a press release. "But we do know that the medications out there that successfully alleviate MS symptoms have been found, in essence by accident, to improve NK cell activity." ... Bielekova added: "Our ultimate goal now is to understand how NK cells work in the immune response and create more tolerable therapeutics that boost their regulatory action.". (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)
T-cell Function Sep 4, 2007
NK cell activity stimulation. B-cell activation. (Suite101.com)
New Target For HIV/AIDS Drugs And Vaccine Discovered Jul 31, 2007
Second, after blocking this first line of defense against the immune system, Nef uses DCs and NK cells to create a microenvironment that actually makes it easier for HIV/AIDS to replicate ... The research findings also raise another intriguing possibility: Nef proteins may be able to boost or suppress DC and NK cell activity ... DCs and NK cells play critical roles in the body s initial defense against infection. (Science Daily)
Type 1 diabetes gene found Jul 17, 2007
Prof Hakonarson said a particular mutation in KIAA0350 may activate the NK cells in such a way that they attack and destroy the body's own cells, particularly the insulin-producing ones in the pancreas, resulting in type 1 diabetes. "A particular version of the gene protects against this inappropriate autoimmune response, while a different version of the gene makes it more likely to happen.". (Guardian Unlimited)
Scientists find new "juvenile" diabetes gene Jul 17, 2007
Our hypothesis is that a special mutation in KIAA0350 may influence the sugar binding of the protein, and trigger an autoimmune response that activates these NK cells in such a way that they attack and destroy the islet cells in the pancreas, resulting in type 1 diabetes. . (The Money Times)
Gene discovered for type 1 diabetes in children Jul 16, 2007
Our hypothesis is that a special mutation in KIAA0350 may influence the sugar binding of the protein, and trigger an autoimmune response that activates these NK cells in such a way that they attack and destroy the islet cells in the pancreas, resulting in type 1 diabetes. A particular version of the gene protects against this inappropriate autoimmune response, while a different version of the gene makes it more likely to happen. (EurekAlert!)
Scientists Find New Clues to Fighting HIV May 16, 2007
In the new study, Carrington's team discovered that certain gene combinations confer a more robust "innate" NK cell response, and that response may also help boost the efficiency of adaptive immune system T-cells. NK cells "are going to start killing HIV-infected cells before cytotoxic T-cells come around," Simmons said ... While the discovery has no immediate therapeutic applications, "one thing that we can think about is, can we somehow treat the individual in some way to stimulate NK cell... (MEDLINEplus)
Boosting Immune 'Killer Cells,' Increases Antibody Effectiveness Against Cancer Apr 20, 2007
Reporting April 18, 2007 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Los Angeles, scientists led by Takami Sato, M.D., K. Hasumi Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University showed in laboratory studies that adding such NK cells to a monoclonal antibody, Herceptin, which targets the HER2/neu protein on breast cancer cells, was more efficient at killing the cancer cells ... According to Dr. Sato, monoclonal... (Science Daily)
