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Article: Protective proteins - bodyguards at work. (immune system)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- February 1, 1993
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Society for the Advancement of Education. 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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As the immune system patrols the body for biological troublemakers, it regularly strikes out at normal, healthy cells as well. Cells rely on special protective proteins to avoid being the victims of this friendly fire. Two of these tiny bodyguards--called MCP for membrane cofactor protein and DAF for decay accelerating factor--also may help sperm fertilize eggs and protect sperm in the female genital tract, according to researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine. In addition, scientists are looking for ways to recruit MCP and DAF to tell the immune system what to kill and what to leave alone. This research eventually could affect cancer therapy, organ ...