immune response

November 17, 2016

Stem cells promote tolerance

Blood-forming stem cells play a role in immune tolerance and acceptance of organ transplants, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.

By Leigh MacMillan
April 29, 2016

Improving natural killer cancer therapy

A newly discovered mechanism that helps cancer cells avoid destruction by immune system cells may improve immunotherapies.

By Sanjay Mishra
April 5, 2016

Immune defenses in asthma

Vanderbilt researchers show that a certain factor negatively impacts the first-line responder cells in the lungs, providing one explanation for why patients with asthma are at greater risk for invasive bacterial disease.

By Leigh MacMillan
March 3, 2016

Melanoma response to immune therapy

Melanoma-specific expression of a certain protein identifies tumors that are more responsive to an immune therapy.

By Leigh MacMillan
blood cells
January 7, 2016

Immune tolerance in endothelial cells

Inducing “tolerance” to bacterial toxins in the endothelial cells that line blood vessels may offer a new approach for preventing the negative consequences of sepsis.

By Leigh MacMillan
conceptual - glowing cell
October 1, 2015

Tolerating a transplant

A new genetic model has generated new strategies for promoting tolerance to transplants – and improving long-term transplant outcomes – in the background of autoimmune disease.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 24, 2015

How to trick a wily virus

Vanderbilt investigators have discovered how human antibodies induced during testing of an experimental “bird flu” vaccine kill the virus.
By Sanjay Mishra
January 26, 2015

Immune response depends on force

New studies explain how T-cell receptors use force to recognize and protect us against pathogens.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 21, 2014

Host sequesters zinc to control stomach bug

Understanding how zinc and the host’s immune response control H. pylori’s cancer-causing potential could suggest new therapeutic strategies to reduce infection and cancer risk.
By Leigh MacMillan
November 6, 2014

Immune cell activity and melanoma

The activity of a certain factor in immune cells is essential for an anti-tumor response, emphasizing the need to consider the effects of anti-cancer therapies on immune cells.
By VUMC News and Communications
October 28, 2014

Peptide quells “genomic storm”

A cell-penetrating peptide developed at Vanderbilt blocks the signaling pathways that lead to lethal shock caused by bacterial infection.
By T.J. Utset
October 24, 2014

Immune cells’ role in hypertension

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that certain immune cells contribute to the development of hypertension, suggesting novel targets for treating the disease.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 10, 2014

Aspirin and allergies

Drugs such as aspirin and indomethacin may increase sensitivity to airborne allergens by suppressing production of the signaling molecule PGI2, which in turn may offer a new treatment for allergies.
By VUMC News and Communications