immune system

October 9, 2014

Immune cells that guard against ingested pathogens discovered

Vanderbilt investigators have discovered a new type of immune cell residing in the intestinal epithelium that may function as a first line of defense against ingested pathogens.

By Leigh MacMillan
September 25, 2014

A path to sarcoidosis treatment

Vanderbilt investigators identify a new therapeutic target for the inflammatory lung disease sarcoidosis.

By VUMC News and Communications
July 23, 2014

Natural killer cells don’t clear HMPV

Understanding how the immune system responds to the respiratory virus HMPV is crucial for developing vaccines and anti-viral treatments.

By Leigh MacMillan
July 17, 2014

Regulating immune regulators

Understanding how to control the generation of regulatory T cells could have important implications for treating autoimmunity and cancer.

By Leigh MacMillan
February 12, 2014

Obesity sends immune cells to the brain

Obesity causes peripheral immune cells to move to the brain, where they may contribute to inflammation and the pathophysiology of obesity.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 28, 2013

Probing intestinal immune cell roles

A new in vitro system will allow investigators to explore how immune system T cells develop specialized functions.

By Leigh MacMillan
June 6, 2013

Study tracks skin salt’s role in blood pressure control

Clinical pharmacologist Jens Titze, M.D., and his colleagues have identified a new cast of cells and molecules that function in the skin to control sodium balance and blood pressure.
By Leigh MacMillan
May 30, 2013

Study lays groundwork for rational T cell vaccine design

Vanderbilt University investigators have developed a new strategy for identifying the “bits” of a pathogen that spark a protective immune response.
By Leigh MacMillan
April 3, 2013

“Silent” B cells trigger autoimmunity

Immune cells that recognize self antigens (e.g. insulin), but are functionally silent, can trigger autoimmune diseases such as diabetes.
By Leigh MacMillan
January 31, 2013

Do-it-yourself repair in the kidney

The kidney can mediate its own repair through proliferation of resident immune system cells.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 9, 2012

New therapeutic target for cold, flu viruses identified

Viruses that cause acute respiratory infections — such as human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and flu — impair a set of immune system cells that should clear the virus from the lungs. Now, Vanderbilt University investigators have discovered the signaling pathway that disables these immune cells.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 7, 2011

Diversity key in antibody repertoire

Antibodies to the 2009 H1N1 influenza strain reveal new insights into how antibody diversity forms and functions, with possible implications for designing flu vaccines.
By VUMC News and Communications
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