Interferon-gamma tagged posts

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have determined that the immune system directly affects and even controls, creatures’ social behavior, such as their desire to interact with others. So could immune system problems contribute to an inability to have normal social interactions? The answer appears to be yes, and could have great implications for neurological conditions eg autism-spectrum disorders and schizophrenia.

“The brain and the adaptive immune system were thought to be isolated from each other, and any immune activity in the brain was perceived as sign of a pathology. And now, not only are we showing that they are closely interacting, but some of our behavior traits might have evolved because of our immune response to pathogens,” explained Jonathan Kipnis, PhD...

Macrophages initiate and direct other immune responses

A research team describes ‘tuning’ macrophages from ones that repair wounds (and contribute to tumor growth) to ones that sterilize wounds (and contribute to immune system’s attack of tumor tissue).

The immune system’s macrophages pick a life path. Cancers encourage macrophages to pick the path of wound-repair, making what are called “M2” or “repair-type” macrophages. Cancers use these M2 macrophages to promote their own growth. Now researchers can successfully flip M2 macrophages into their wound-sterilizing cousins, called “M1” or “kill-type” macrophages, which, contrary to promoting the growth of new tissue, may aid the immune system in clearing the body of cancer.

“The basic message we’re trying to convey is that turning those M2 m...

Highlights •IFN-γ and 4D5 act directly on erbB2-positive breast cancer cells •IFN-γ, but not IFN-α or β, cooperates with 4D5 directly on erbB2+ breast cancer cells •IFN-γ and 4D5 alters KLF4 levels and degrades Snail by the GSK3-β/proteasome pathway •Sequential combination treatment with mAb and IFN-γ sensitizes for tumor eradication. Credit: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2015.08.044

This therapy, when translated for use in people humans, would be beneficial in reducing toxicity because the amount of antibody could be decreased by 2/3 and the amount of chemotherapy by at least 1/2, they say. This in turn, “reduces the cost of treatment so that individuals previously not able to afford targeted therapy will be able to do so.

“This line of research is important to future ...