immune system Archives
Immune cells and obesity
Sep. 8, 2015—Understanding how macrophage immune cells accumulate in fat tissue and contribute to the pathology of obesity could lead to the development of novel therapeutics for metabolic disorders.
Immune cells’ role in hypertension
Oct. 24, 2014—Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that certain immune cells contribute to the development of hypertension, suggesting novel targets for treating the disease.
Immune cells that guard against ingested pathogens discovered
Oct. 9, 2014—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.
A path to sarcoidosis treatment
Sep. 25, 2014—Vanderbilt investigators identify a new therapeutic target for the inflammatory lung disease sarcoidosis.
Natural killer cells don’t clear HMPV
Jul. 23, 2014—Understanding how the immune system responds to the respiratory virus HMPV is crucial for developing vaccines and anti-viral treatments.
Regulating immune regulators
Jul. 17, 2014—Understanding how to control the generation of regulatory T cells could have important implications for treating autoimmunity and cancer.
Obesity sends immune cells to the brain
Feb. 12, 2014—Obesity causes peripheral immune cells to move to the brain, where they may contribute to inflammation and the pathophysiology of obesity.
Probing intestinal immune cell roles
Aug. 28, 2013—A new in vitro system will allow investigators to explore how immune system T cells develop specialized functions.
Study tracks skin salt’s role in blood pressure control
Jun. 6, 2013—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.
Study lays groundwork for rational T cell vaccine design
May. 30, 2013—Vanderbilt University investigators have developed a new strategy for identifying the “bits” of a pathogen that spark a protective immune response.
“Silent” B cells trigger autoimmunity
Apr. 3, 2013—Immune cells that recognize self antigens (e.g. insulin), but are functionally silent, can trigger autoimmune diseases such as diabetes.
Do-it-yourself repair in the kidney
Jan. 31, 2013—The kidney can mediate its own repair through proliferation of resident immune system cells.