Research: How the Immune System Fails as Cancer Arises
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Cancer has been described as “a wound that does not heal,” implying that the immune system is unable to wipe out invading tumor cells. A new discovery confirms that a key molecule can reprogram immune cells that normally protect against infection and cancer, turning them into bad guys that promote cancer growth.
Studying the behavior of these “pro-tumor” immune cells is important because they could be targets for therapies that block their harmful activity, said Minsoo Kim, PhD, corresponding author of the study and a research leader at the Wilmot Cancer Institute.
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) published the discovery.
Kim led a team of scientists investigating the dynamic interactions that occur between cells in the tumor environment, and the underlying factors that cause the harmful transformation of immune cells from good to bad.
They found that PAF (platelet-activating factor) is the key molecule that controls the destiny of the immune cells. PAF not only recruits cancer-promoting cells, but it also suppresses the immune system’s ability to fight back. In addition, they found that multiple cancers rely on the same PAF signals.
Read More: Research: How the Immune System Fails as Cancer ArisesCongratulations to Xiaoyi Liu as the recipient of Top Student/Trainee Abstract Award at the 2024 BCVS Scientific Sessions
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Xiaoyi Liu, 5th year graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Small was the recipient of the Top Student/Trainee Abstract Award in The 2024 Early Career Poster Competition for her poster entitled, “P53 regulates the extent of fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis in left ventricle pressure overload”. Xiaoyi was presented this award at The American Heart Association Basic Cardiovascular Sciences (BCVS) 2024 Scientific Sessions, held in Chicago, IL on July 22-25, 2024.
Congratulations to Xiaoyi Liu as the Recipient of a Two-Year Predoctoral Fellowship from the American Heart Association
Monday, January 1, 2024
Xiaoyi Liu, 4th year graduate student in the laboratory of Dr. Eric Small was awarded a two-year American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship entitled, “Sprr2b/p53 dependent control of cardiac fibroblast proliferation and fibrosis”.
Project Summary
Heart disease is accompanied by the accumulation of cardiac fibroblasts that deposit extracellular matrix to generate a fibrotic scar. In this project, we will investigate how tumor suppressor proteins, including p53, control the magnitude and timing of cardiac fibroblast proliferation and cardiac fibrosis. We will also test a novel mechanism that regulates ubiquitin-mediated degradation of p53 in cardiac fibroblasts, via interactions with the Sprr2b protein. Ultimately, our findings will identify strategies to limit fibroblast expansion and the development of pathological cardiac fibrosis in heart disease.