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Body's Immune System can be Redirected

Posted by michael on from the detour dept.

Ridgelift writes "BBC News have this story of a key chemical signalling system, called Notch, which governs how our body develops immune cells. By pre-treating patients who are about to undergo an organ transplant, it's possible to 'redirect' the immune system so it does not launch an attack on the donor organ. This may soon eliminate the need for transplant patients having to take a lifetime of powerful immunosuppressive drugs that have many unwanted side-effects."

4 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. Multiple Sclerosis by suss · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I wonder if this could somehow be adapted to treat Multiple sclerosis, where the immune system attacks its own myelin...

    Any thoughts?

  2. Re:redirecting the only option? by tibike77 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All I can say is: "marginally funny".
    It clearly states in the article that this so-called "system" is based on pumping up the developement of certain immune cells (T suppressor cells) that "that put the brakes on any immune response".

    So, obviously, it can be used for increasing your immune response directly, BUT this would mean your own body's T-cells *could* start attacking you instead of your "enemies" (viruses, whatever).

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  3. Alternatively... by FFFish · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...Isotechnika has re-designed our old-standard drugs (Cyclosporin, stuff like that) to be far, far less toxic.

    I don't understand it. Sounds good, though!

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  4. Re:Misleading Slashdot summary by TwistedGreen · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The Slashdot summary is simply flat out incorrect.

    Yeah, well, that's not exactly news either.