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Allergy and immunology news

How lungs balance defense and damage by tuning responses to deeper threats

Barrier organs that form boundaries between the body and the outside environment, such as the lungs, skin, and intestines, face a difficult balancing act. They must respond quickly to threats such as infection, but they also ...

Neuronal hyperactivity triggers severe autoimmune brain disorder, researchers discover

In a condition known as "IgLON5 encephalitis," the immune system mistakenly attacks cells in the brain. This leads to brain inflammation and neuronal damage, which can manifest as sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, ...

Lab-designed molecule offers hope for celiac disease sufferers

A research project led by the Institute for Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA) and the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona, together with the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona ...

Immune system overreaction linked to deadly flu in pregnancy

In most people, influenza stays in the upper respiratory tract—mainly the nose—and clears without spreading further. But during pregnancy, the virus can extend beyond the lungs into the cardiovascular system, increasing the ...

Turning up the volume on macrophage-driven immune responses

As part of the body's first line of defense against foreign invaders, macrophages play an integral role in the innate immune system. However, the ability of macrophages to interpret and respond to diverse danger signals remains ...

Unleashing natural killer cells against cancer

Scientists have developed a strategy to boost the cancer-fighting power of natural killer (NK) cells, part of the immune system's first line of defense. NK cells can detect and destroy cancer cells, but tumors often create ...