Genetic risk factor and viral infection jointly contribute to multiple sclerosis, study suggests
Recent findings suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is involved in both causing multiple sclerosis (MS) and shaping its progression.
Genetics
Scientists report new immune insights and targets into LRRK2 mutations in Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, a brain region essential for motor control. Clinically, it is marked by tremor, rigidity, br…
Proximity matters: Claudin-1 as an unexpected guardian of central tolerance
Scientists from the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Faculty of Science at Charles University, have uncovered a completely new role for the protein Claudin-1 in the immune system. The study is …
A mother’s circadian rhythm may predict her child’s vulnerability to bacterial infection
In laboratory models, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discovered that a mother’s circadian rhythms, or internal body clock, can influence the immune system states of her offspring, which can accurately predict the risk …
Individual genetic differences can render some antibody-based therapies ineffective
Antibody-based therapies are used to treat numerous diseases, from cancer to rheumatic disorders and multiple sclerosis. Antibodies recognize and bind to very specific structures. This allows them to direct active substances to exactly the right target…
Research challenges idea that gene PTPN22 boosts production of interferons
A new paper from the University of Kansas overturns the idea that a “risk gene” carried by millions of people worldwide influences production of type 1 interferon, a workhorse of the immune system. The work is published in the journal ImmunoHorizons.
Researchers reveal intricate control system for key immune gene
The immune system faces a delicate balancing act: It must be aggressive enough to fight infections and cancer, yet restrained enough to avoid attacking the body’s own tissues.
Q&A: Research offers hope for new autoimmune treatments
Alec Whited (’25 MS, Biology) is helping uncover how cells remove waste, a process that could lead to better treatments for autoimmune diseases and improved wound healing.
How a tiny RNA molecule in the kidney triggers a deadly autoimmune disease
Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have discovered how a small, naturally occurring RNA molecule in the kidney activates a mutated immune receptor, triggering a chain reaction.
Oxygen deprivation heightens risk of illness by changing genes, researchers discover
Low oxygen levels in the blood can alter the genetic makeup of key immune cells, weakening the body’s ability to fight infection, new research shows.