Southampton scientists discover sweet spot of activity in immune system key to fighting cancer.

[2greys]

Scientists at the University of Southampton have shown how stimulating a specific location on the surface of immune cells can be targeted with antibodies to help in their fight against cancer.

The new work concerns a receptor called CD40 found of the surface of certain immune cells which regulates their activity. The CD40 receptors are normally dispersed over the surface of resting immune cells, but must be concentrated and clustered into highly organised complexes in order to trigger an immune response against cancer. Scientists believe that very precise clustering is required to trigger an activation signal to ‘kick-start’ the immune cells as they fight diseases, including cancer.

southampton.ac.uk/medicine/...

[Oldasthmaticfart]

Sounds like a dream, but would there be a way of switching these cells back to rest mode after they have worked on the cancer? I would be concerned that autoimmunity could happen months / years later if there are a load of hyperactive immune cells.

[2greys in reply to Oldasthmaticfart]

I would think that they would have addressed that possibility. The University Hospital Southampton are at the forefront of Immunology research. I have walked past their very large research building many times on my way to the Oncology Clinic.