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Alzheimer's. Illustration: depositphotos.com

From cancer to Alzheimer's: Engineered immune cells reduce protein deposits in the brain

In a study published in PNAS, T cells were engineered to recognize amyloid proteins in the brain; the injections reduced the extent of deposits and markers of brain inflammation—offering a new direction for degenerative brain diseases
Human lung cancer tissue under the microscope. The helper macrophages (in red) are surrounded by enzymes (in yellow) that activate the stimulating part of the antibodies they develop. This targeted action prevents damage to healthy tissue.

Neutralize the defense, go on the offensive: Smart antibodies to fight cancer

Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified immunosuppressive macrophages in tumors and developed smart molecules called MiTEs that target the TREM2 receptor and locally activate IL-2 – with the aim of overcoming resistance to immunotherapy without causing side effects.
DNA. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The genetic switch that brings immune cells back into battle

In Prof. Ido Amit's laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science, they identified a gene whose silencing reprograms immune system cells and can transform them from cancer supporters to cancer killers.
The pituitary gland of the zebrafish. The variety of cell types are marked in different colors: in purple - phytocytes, in red and green - two types of hormone-producing cells

Where does the fish secrete from: back to the origins of the pituitary gland

Weizmann Institute scientists are challenging a 200-year-old doctrine about the formation of the gland from the secretion of hormones. Their findings may lead to new approaches in the treatment of various medical problems
Battle team: A dendritic cell (right) and a T cell connected by BiCE antibody (in yellow). were produced from a lymph node of a mouse with skin cancer

Together we will win: combining forces between the cells of the immune system may lead to improved cancer treatments

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists have developed a new approach to immunotherapy based on communication between the cells of the immune system
Mouse liver tissue under the microscope. Signs of acute liver failure (left) disappeared after administration of a drug that blocks the control protein MYC

Involvement of intestinal bacteria and liver cells in acute liver failure

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists revealed the discovery and outlined a path for future treatment
Imaging of communication between two cells of the immune system - a "combatant" T cell and a "suppressor" myeloid cell. The yellow sparks are meant to illustrate intracellular processes that can be detected using the new method

New technology allows a "peek" into what is happening inside cells

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Lungs of an untreated mouse with Ewing's sarcoma (left) containing many cancer cells (highlighted) that have spread from the bones, compared to almost completely clean lungs of a mouse treated with a drug that reduces glucocorticoid production (right)

The causes of the spread of bone cancer were revealed in Ewing's name

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Prof. Yanon Ben Naria. Photo: Boaz Rabinovitch

The winners of the Rapaport Award in the field of biomedical research for 2016: Prof. Yanon Ben-Naria, from the Faculty of Medicine at the Hebrew University and Dr. Ido Amit, from the Weizmann Institute

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Illustration: Spokesperson of the Weizmann Institute

environmental control

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The experimental system: two nostrils from which exit ultrasonic beams of excited helium atoms (in blue) and of argon atoms or hydrogen molecules (in red). The blue beam passes through a magnetic device (in yellow) which causes it to bend, and merges with the red beam - then the argon atoms or hydrogen molecules undergo ionization, and enter the detector. The picture above shows a cross-section of the magnetic device

expression and control

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In the figure: the control factors are divided hierarchically into three levels of activity. The factors of the highest level (above) affect the state of the genetic material, thus determining the basic identity of the cell. The factors of the second level (in the center) determine the expression levels of the genes and thus shape the properties of the cell. The factors of the third level (below) are more dynamic in nature, and activate genes in response to changing environmental conditions.

Weizmann Institute scientists have developed a method for deciphering the control code of the genome and through it have revealed new principles in regulating the expression of genes

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