College of agriculture, Land-grant university in Fort Collins, Colorado

A team of scientists discovered novel immune checkpoints that have applications for cancer, autoimmune disease treatment. The immune system is a complex balancing act; if it overreacts or underreacts to foreign molecules, there can be serious health consequences.For cancer patients, tumour progression is often accompanied by immunosuppression, meaning their bodies can't fight off pathogens the way they should. By contrast, for people with autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, their immune systems overreact and attack the body itself.Both of these reactions are influenced by a series of molecular checkpoints found in both immune cells and cancer cells. In immune cells, these checkpoints are supposed to prevent the immune system from mounting a response that is too strong and attacks healthy cells. For people with autoimmune diseases, these checkpoint molecules do not function properly. In cancer cells, they bind to immune cell receptors and inhibit their function to a degree that makes patients vulnerable to severe illness and infection.Dr. Laijun Lai, a research professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, has used bioinformatics and gene engineering techniques to develop a series of recombinant proteins and antibodies for a novel set of checkpoint molecules to address both of these concerns. Lai recently published a paper on the effectiveness of this invention in EMBO Molecular Medicine and has a patent pending for this invention.Scientists made a major breakthrough when they identified several checkpoints, specifically PD-L1, PD-1 and CTLA-4, within the last decade. There are several FDA-approved medications that produce recombinant proteins to treat autoimmune disease, and antibodies to block the inhibitor activity of these checkpoints for cancer patients. However, not all patients respond to these treatments since there are many other checkpoints at work.Using a bioinformatics approach, Lai identified three additional checkpoints: CD300c, ERMAP, and TAPBPL found in both immune cells and cancer cells. The bioinformatics approach identified the checkpoints that were most likely to be relevant based on their genetic and structural similarities to previously identified molecules.Each molecule binds to a specific immune cell receptor to send an inhibitory signal and uses different mechanisms to check immune cell responses."The expression pattern of our molecules are different from existing checkpoint molecules and, probably, a different subset of patients will respond to them," Lai says.Lai's group used genetic engineering to develop recombinant proteins from the genetic blueprint of these proteins. Lai has demonstrated that these recombinant proteins can successfully suppress T-cell function in animal models of autoimmune diseases.On the other side, Lai's group developed antibodies that can block the inhibitory activity of these checkpoint molecules. He found the antibodies enhance antitumor immunity and inhibit tumour growth in animal models.These therapies can be combined with exiting antibodies for PD-L1, PD-1 and CTLA-4, or on their own for patients who do not respond to those treatments."Our antibodies against these checkpoint molecules have the potential to be used in the treatment of cancer patients who are resistant to the anti-PD-1, PDL1, and CTLA-4 antibodies and can also be used in combination with existing antibodies to enhance the antitumor effects," Lai says.( With inputs from ANI )Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

College Of AgricultureFOLLOW

College of agriculture, Latest News

Los Angeles, Sept 1: Actress-singer Selena Gomez, who is receiving a great response to the recently released fourth season ... ...

A recent academic study published in the journal One Earth, reveals that there are environmental downsides to China's coastal ... ...

In yet another shooting incident, five people have been killed and 18 injured in a shooting at a gay ... ...

A new study by the Colorado State University suggests that the cells in your brain, called neurons, are sending rapid-fire electrical signals between each other, transmitting information. They're doing so via tiny, specialized junctions between them ...

According to a new study, parental alienating behaviours and coercively controlling abuse are similar. ...

A group of women wearing bikinis at the beach were confronted by a man over their outfits. The man ... ...

Silvia Sara Canetto, who is a Professor of Psychology at the Colorado State University and has spent several years trying to make sense of the variability in women's and men's suicide mortality around the world, recently found that suicide rates are ...

A team of scientists discovered novel immune checkpoints that have applications for cancer, autoimmune disease treatment. The immune system is a complex balancing act; if it overreacts or underreacts to foreign molecules, there can be serious health ...