|
|
Article: Mayo Clinic Researchers Discover Immune System Molecule That Can Help or Harm Health.
- Article from:
- Ascribe Higher Education News Service
- Article date:
- June 17, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 AScribe. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Mayo Clinic
ROCHESTER, Minn., June 17 (AScribe Newswire) -- Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a new member of the important B7 family of immune system "co-stimulators." Co-stimulators are molecules that are capable of turning the immune system on or off -- and in the process, profoundly affecting human health.
Mayo Clinic researchers named this newest molecule B7-H4. It inhibits the action of T cells, the immune system warriors whose basic job is to attack invaders. Turning off T cells helps transplant patients accept foreign organs. But turning off T cells harms cancer patients -- their tumors continue to grow without defensive attacks by ...