New method to combat foreign proteins

WASHINGTON, May 18 — U.S. scientists have discovered a new method the body's immune system uses to fight back foreign proteins that invade the system.

Washington University researchers found the immune system can brand foreign proteins by chemically modifying their structure.

The modifications increase the chances cells known as lymphocytes will recognize the trespassers and attack them.

Pathology Professor Dr. Emil R. Unanue said the next step for the research is to see if such protein modification is helpful in vaccines. The findings also could be relevant to autoimmune conditions, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue — such as in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

"We show in this study that during some infections, these same types of modifications can be made to our own proteins, potentially leading to T cell attacks on the self," Unanue said.

The researchers conducted their studies in mice and mouse cell cultures and the findings will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences on May 31.

•	New method to combat foreign proteins United Press International, Wednesday, May 18, 2005

	Story also ran in 3 others:  Washington Times, Science Daily and World Peace Herald (DC)