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Scientists Find Master Gene To Switch On Immune Cells

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the nature's-lightswitch dept.

Scientists claim to have identified a master gene which is able to transform blood stem cells into disease-fighting immune cells. The hope is that this discovery will allow for new treatments for cancer. "The researchers have 'knocked out' the gene in question, known as E4bp4, in a mouse model, creating the world's first animal model entirely lacking NK cells, but with all other blood cells and immune cells intact. This breakthrough model should help solve the mystery of the role that Natural Killer cells play in autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Some scientists think that these diseases are caused by malfunctioning NK cells that turn on the body and attack healthy cells, causing disease instead of fighting it. Clarifying NK cells' role could lead to new ways of treating these conditions."

13 of 94 comments (clear)

  1. Used to cure cancer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I doubt it. Chances are this will be used for warfare.

    1. Re:Used to cure cancer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      1. Use said technology in genetic warfare (either turn it always on or always off and apply convenient pathogen)
      2. Unexpected mutation in delivery system
      3. Worldwide human extinction
      4. No new cases of cancer in humans

    2. Re:Used to cure cancer? by joaommp · · Score: 3, Funny

      Actually, chances are, House is going to save some patient with some obscure theory based on this.

      --
      Onda Technology Institute
  2. Cure for cancer... by ifwm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I recall reading somewhere that there will never be a proper 'cure" for cancer because of the nature of our cell reproduction processes.

    That said, why is it everything is a "cure for cancer"? The hyperbole has gotten way old.

    1. Re:Cure for cancer... by ByOhTek · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The problem with "a cure for cancer", is that cancer isn't one disease. Also there are many causes.

      That being said, reliable treatments (cures) for different types of cancers can still be developed. However, no cure for cancer could ever prevent a relapse, unless it treated the genetic factors involved, and was taken regularly through a person's life. Even then, only cancers derived from the cause that the treatment targets, will be prevented.

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    2. Re:Cure for cancer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Also, time is a four day cube. Apparently.

    3. Re:Cure for cancer... by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Informative

      pssst.... actually, "cancer" has the same exact cause.... mutated cells reproducing out of control...

      No, that is the definition of cancer, not the cause. Cause != symptom. Example: a large portion of cancers, are in part, caused by a disabled p53 gene.

      find something that targets and destroys these mutant cells, boom, cure for cancer...
      find something that cuts off the blood supply to said mutant cells, boom! cure for cancer...

      Unfortunately, a cure that non-specific also targets normal stem cells, and the treatment actually curing cancer vs. killing the patient becomes a dice game that works on small cancers.

      Now, what CAUSES the cells to go haywire is a good thing to target.

      everyone has cancer cells (newsflash!)

      No, everyone has cells that have the potential to become cancerous, and most people develop cancer cells at some point during their lives. It's a small difference, but you seem to want to be really nitpicky here...

      --
      Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
    4. Re:Cure for cancer... by Chyeld · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yes, but if I body alkalinize, that throws off the aura the magnetic ferrous beads I wear around my neck produce, thus opening me to other diseases such as Ballybran crystalization.

      I perfer a more holastic approach, if you regularly injest the (cooked, of course) flesh of a chupacabra each full moon, you not only protect yourself from cancer but also most forms of therianthropy.

      Sadly, it's hard to find a good supplier of chupacbra, as they are a non-native species.

    5. Re:Cure for cancer... by Bakkster · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Ah, but these cells are the ones that normally prevent cellular mutations from becoming tumors. It's the body's own defense mechanism, and it works the vast majority of the time. If you can increase the number of NK cells, you increase the body's defenses against all forms of cancer, including relapses. In fact, this treatment would be especially good at relapses, since part of their purpose is to destroy individual cancerous cells before they can grow into tumors.
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_killer_cell

      While there are obviously some hurdles, mobilizing the body's anti-cancer response enough to overpower tumors sounds like a cure to me.

      --
      Write your representatives! Repeal the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics!
  3. Re:Hmmm by Kell+Bengal · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ah, to clarify - they also want to turn off faulty NK cells. That makes more sense.

    --
    Scientists point out problems, engineers fix them
    altslashdot.org: The future of slashdot.
  4. Re:Hmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The mice only want us to think that they are a research tool.

  5. Re:Hmmm by ByOhTek · · Score: 4, Informative

    That's how genetics works.

    You find out what creates a something by turning it off.

    For example, they E4bp4 gene is needed to make NK cells from blood stem cells. They now know that one of the steps in generating NK cells from the listed stem cells involves the protein E4bp4 gene. Using information about this and other relevant proteins (both that they have found, and that they haven't found, once they are found), they will be able to devise procedures for converting these stem cells (possibly from the original patient, eliminating or reducing rejection issues) to NK cells.

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
  6. Fuck cancer by Theodore · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, if this has no benefits towards a cancer cure, I don't care...
    Because it looks like a promising step towards helping auto-immune disorders.

    Cancer either kills you, or you live...
    auto-immune, you live, and suffer, and live, and suffer, and live (goddamn it).

    I've known people with auto-immune disorders for over 25 years,
    And it's only NOW that some of these disorders are even being recognized as a disease.
    (coming in from the fringe to "real" medicine).

    I have eczema.
    Yeah, doesn't really sound bad does it.
    Imagine having the skin on your fingers swell and split open, and your forearms be red and "popeye-ish" and they just radiate heat.
    I've been lucky enough to figure out some of the triggers for it (MSG and onions, mainly), but it never quite goes away, except when I get a hard cold/flu, then it totally clears up.

    Too many auto-immune disorders are still considered to be "all in the head".
    Hopefully this helps bring them more mainstream attention.