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Article: Lag-3 Gene Dampens Immune Responses by Controlling Regulatory T-Cell Function; St. Jude/Johns Hopkins discovery suggests that manipulating levels of Lag-3 protein on T regulatory cells might prevent autoimmune diseases or amplify immune system attacks on cancer cells.
- Article from:
- PR Newswire
- Article date:
- October 19, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 PR Newswire Association LLC. 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)
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MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The discovery that the Lag-3 gene acts as a brake to prevent immune system responses from running out of control solves a mystery that has puzzled researchers since the gene was discovered 14 years ago. A report on this discovery, from investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and The Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, is published in the October issue of the journal Immunity.
The researchers solved the mystery of what Lag-3 does by showing that the gene permits so-called regulatory T cells to act as brakes on the immune system.
Regulatory T cells, which carry the Lag-3 protein on their surfaces, ...