Oestrogen-dependent switch tempers killing activity of immune cells
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 07:35
in Biology & Nature
The sex hormone oestrogen tempers the killing activity of a specific group of immune cells, the cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), which are known to attack tumour cells and cells infected by viruses. The key player in this process is a cytotoxic T cell molecule which has been known for a long time and which scientists have named EBAG9. Cancer researchers Dr Constantin Rueder and Dr Armin Rehm together with immunologist Dr Uta Hoepken of the Max Delbrueck Centre for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and Charite - University Medicine Berlin, Germany, have now unravelled the function of EBAG9. Modulated by oestrogen, EBAG9 tempers the activity of CTLs. In the absence of EBAG9, the activity of CTLs is enhanced...