Background: Initial clinical responses with gene engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in cancer patients are highly encouraging; however, primary resistance and also relapse may prevent durable remission in a substantial part of the patients. One of the underlying causes is the resistance mechanisms in cancer cells that limit effective killing by CAR T cells. CAR T cells exert their cytotoxic function through secretion of granzymes and perforin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel combination therapies have markedly improved the lifespan of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but drug resistance and disease relapse remain major clinical problems. Dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids are a cornerstone of conventional and new combination therapies for MM, although their use is accompanied by serious side effects. We aimed to uncover drug combinations that act in synergy and, as such, allow reduced dosing while remaining effective.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections appears to differ with age in both humans and bovines. A primary RSV infection in naïve infants and in young calves runs a more severe course when they are 1-6 months old than in their first month of life. The relative lack of clinical signs in the first month of age may be due to high levels of maternally derived neutralizing antibodies or low exposure to infectious virus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe predominance of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in boys compared to girls is well known, but its mechanism is not yet understood. This is the first study focusing on gender-specific genetic factors affecting the risk of severe RSV infection using a previously described cohort. We determined 347 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 470 children hospitalized for RSV infection, their parents, and 1,008 random population controls.
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