Humans have a homologous population with nearly identical specificity, and although the
cells tend to be more frequent in mice than humans, clinical trials are underway based on activating human iNKT
cells to stimulate antitumor
responses.
The big challenge previous allergy researchers faced was that immune
cells, known as T -
cells,
tended to develop a form of «memory» so that once someone developed an immune
response to an allergen, it would easily recur upon future contact.
activation of NK
cells / monocytes in elderly While the researchers found people older than 65
tended to have weaker antibody
responses to vaccination, there were common elements of molecular signatures that predicted strong antibody
responses in younger and older volunteers. However, elderly volunteers
tended to have stronger signatures from immune
cells that are not directly involved in producing antibodies (monocytes and â $ ˜natural killerâ $ ™
cells), both at baseline and after vaccination.