he cell switches roles from killer to dendritic like messenger. The cell sprouts long, hairy tentacles called dendrites. It uses its "arms" to increase the amount of surface area it reaches to communicate and interact with other immune cells. Then, the cell dies and is replenished by the bone marrow.

Researchers studied about these cells by fluorescent-tags and by infecting mice with bacteria called listeria. In assassin-mode, the IKDCs were found in the blood, lining of the gut, liver and other organs which were in close contact with the pathogen. In the lymph nodes they found approximately 35 % of the original group of IKDCs now secreting communication molecules signaling a switch to messenger-mode.

Housseau's colleagues in France, led by Laurence Zitvogel at the Institut Gustave Roussy, tested IKDCs in killing cancer cells. They injected mice with a cancer drug called Gleevec. This blocks an abnormal protein produced by cancer cells, and a growth factor for NK cells. The drug-growth factor combo served as a lure, leading the IKDCs to tumors implanted in the mice. The results were that tumors shrunk in mice, which received injections of IKDCs, but not in those receiving conventional NK cells only. Housseau's group is conducting further studies to verify the role of IKDC cells in infection and cancer.


'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Pancreatitis: Minimially Invasive Procedure Offers Long-Term Pain Relief
2. Drug Offers Hope for Alzheimers disease
3. Drug Firm Offers to Donate Smallpox Vaccine
4. fMRI Offers Insight Into An Infants Brain
5. Gel Offers A More Targeted Approach
6. Umbilical Cord Blood Offers Hope For Patients Who Require Bone Marrow Transplants
7. Surgery Offers Better Treatment For Third Degree Piles
8. New Study Offers Hope For Balding Men
9. Gamma Knife Offers New Hope For Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients
10. Study Offers Insights Into Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
11. CPHA Offers HIV Information Packages To Canadian Football League Teams