The specific or acquired immune system of vertebrates is a powerful weapon against pathogens and pathologically altered body cells. Here, T cells play a special role. After activation, they can systematically kill off target ...
Jul 13, 2023
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The exchange of gases between the air we breathe and our blood takes place via alveoli—tiny air sacs in our lungs. For this process to run smoothly, the epithelial cells of the alveoli produce a substance called "surfactant" ...
Sep 16, 2022
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An immune reaction in the brain seems to play a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In a way, it "adds fuel to the fire" and apparently causes an inflammation that, in a sense, keeps kindling itself. The ...
Mar 18, 2020
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The process of inflammation is complex. The main role is played by immune cells migrating from the blood into the tissue to fight the inflammation. If too many of these cells are active, however, they can just as easily cause ...
Apr 18, 2018
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A second biological pathway that signals immune cells not to engulf and kill cancer cells has been identified by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Nov 27, 2017
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Eliminating pathogens and cellular waste is an important task of microglia, the immune cells of the brain. They are among the group of non-neural brain cells that support the normal function of nerve cells. A new study now ...
Aug 29, 2017
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For the first time, researchers from the University of Zurich demonstrate a surprising effect of microglia, the scavenger cells of the brain: If these cells lack the TDP-43 protein, they not only remove Alzheimer's plaques, ...
Jun 30, 2017
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The brain has its own inbuilt processes for mopping up damaging cellular waste—and these processes may provide protection from stroke and dementia.
May 1, 2017
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589
Everybody knows the burning sensation in the legs when climbing down a steep slope for a long time. It is caused by microruptures in the cell membrane of our muscle fibers. These holes in the cell envelopes must be closed ...
Sep 21, 2016
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A gene that protects the brain from the harmful build-up of amyloid-beta, one of the causative proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease, has been identified as a new target for therapy by NeuRA researchers.
Jul 26, 2016
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