Key to immune function found
The protein, A1, is crucial to the survival of many immune cells, according to the research, which will help scientists understand more about diseases of the immune system. Image: Eraxion/iStockphoto An international team of researchers has discovered that many of the body’s infection-fighting immune cells require a cell survival protein, called A1, to develop and function. Their finding could lead to a better understanding of conditions including leukaemia, allergy and autoimmunity.The team discovered that without A1, immune cells called lymphocytes and granulocytes could not develop, or could not respond appropriately to infectious stimuli.A1 is part of the Bcl-2 protein family, which controls the survival of cells. The research team developed a method of depleting A1 from immune cells, allowing them to study the development and function of immune cells lacking A1. The findings were published online last month in the journal Blood.The research was jointly led by Dr Marco Herold, from the Walter...