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The Nobel Prize in medical science was granted for revolutionary discoveries that clarify how the immune system attacks dangerous pathogens while sparing the body's own cells.

A trio of renowned scientists—from Japan Prof. Sakaguchi and US scientists Dr. Brunkow and Dr. Ramsdell—received this accolade.

Their research identified specialized "security guards" within the defense system that eliminate rogue defense cells that could attacking the body.

These discoveries are now paving the way for new treatments for autoimmune diseases and malignancies.

The winners will divide a prize fund worth 11 million Swedish kronor.

Decisive Discoveries

"Their research has been decisive for comprehending how the body's defenses functions and why we don't all suffer from serious self-attack conditions," commented the head of the award panel.

The team's studies address a core question: In what way does the immune system defend us from numerous invaders while leaving our healthy cells unharmed?

Our immune system employs white blood cells that search for indicators of infection, even pathogens and germs it has not met before.

These defenders employ sensors—called receptors—that are produced by chance in countless combinations.

This gives the defense network the capacity to fight a broad range of invaders, but the randomness of the process unavoidably creates immune cells that may target the host.

Protectors of the Body

Researchers earlier understood that a portion of these harmful white blood cells were destroyed in the immune organ—the site where immune cells develop.

The latest Nobel Prize recognizes the discovery of regulatory T-cells—described as the immune system's "peacekeepers"—which patrol the system to disarm other immune cells that attack the healthy cells.

It is known that this mechanism malfunctions in self-attack conditions such as type-1 diabetes, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Nobel panel stated, "These findings have established a new field of research and accelerated the creation of new therapies, for example for cancer and immune disorders."

Regarding malignancies, T-regs prevent the body from fighting the tumor, so research are aimed at lowering their quantity.

For autoimmune diseases, trials are exploring increasing regulatory T-cells so the body is no longer under attack. A similar approach could also be useful in reducing the risks of organ transplant failure.

Innovative Studies

Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, of a Japanese institution, conducted tests on mice that had their immune gland removed, causing self-attack conditions.

The researcher demonstrated that introducing immune cells from other animals could prevent the illness—suggesting there was a system for preventing defenders from attacking the host.

Mary Brunkow, affiliated with the Institute for Systems Biology in a US city, and Dr. Ramsdell, now at a biotech firm in San Francisco, were investigating an inherited immune disorder in mice and people that resulted in the identification of a gene critical for how regulatory T-cells function.

"Their groundbreaking research has uncovered how the immune system is controlled by T-reg cells, preventing it from mistakenly attacking the healthy cells," said a leading biological science specialist.

"This research is a striking example of how basic biological research can have broad consequences for human health."