Científicos del Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center de Estados Unidos explican en "Cell" que para que el sistema inmunológico funcione es necesario que dos partes del mismo actúen adecuadamente. Por un lado, el componente inmune innato defiende el organismo frente a sustancias extrañas que no ha visto antes. Un fallo del sistema inmunológico puede dar lugar a cáncer, enfermedades autoinmunes o infecciones que comprometen la vida.
En su artículo, los autores anuncian haber identificado un gen, llamado MEF, que es esencial para el desarrollo de los linfocitos citotóxicos. "Comprendiendo cómo la proteína MEF promueve el desarrollo y función de estas células podremos crear nuevas formas de ayudar al sistema inmune innato a reconocer y destruir las células tumorales", explican.
Immunity 2002;17:437-449
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Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
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