The herpes virus can carry a key to treating new cancer

The cousin of herpes may only help us fight cancer. Scientists have designed a protein derived from the herpes virus in monkeys that can enhance the strength of the immune system against cancer.

The researchers at the University of Michigan detailed their work on protein in a paper Published last month. In experiments with mice, the protein has long the life of the T-Lautting COXTED cells, which leads to low tumor growth. Researchers say the results indicate a new method through which we can increase the enhancement of immunodeficiency cancer treatment.

Protein comes Simeri herpes virusIt was named after the squirrel monkeys (all members of the sex SimeriThe virus affects the first place. The researchers have identified the virus as carrying the proteins that activate certain paths in T -cells – the front lines soldiers in the immune system against infections and cancers – which have been alive. They finally designed a modified version of a specific protein of the virus, called the Tirosin Kinaz Reaction (TIP). They were hoping that their copies of TIP would be linked to a protein in T -cells that stimulate the production of other proteins called Stat, which could enhance the longevity of T cells and the possibility of killing cancer.

As expected, the protein increased the stat (specifically the Stat5 protein) in the T cells in the Petri dish. Then tested the protein on mice with skin cancer and lymphoma. The researchers found that T cells of treated mice lived for a longer period and killing cancer cells more effectively, which led to low cancer growth.

The researchers wrote in the paper, which was published in scientific immunity: “The results we have reached show that the signal paths can be re -connected to the T cells to maintain their function in solid tumors.”

In recent years, scientists have developed a category of treatments that increase the ability of the immune system to identify and attack cancers, which are widely known as immunotherapy. Therefore, UM scientists believe that their protein can be used with the immune treatments to preserve T cells in the form of cancer pigmentation. On a wider scale, they believe that other organisms or genes can be adjusted to adjust our immune cells to make them better in fighting cancer.

The team protein is still experimental, so it will take a lot of research to see if it can be used safely and effectively in people. But it may not take a long time for herpes viruses to contribute to the treatment of cancer. Several research teams have evolved an average Versions From the simple herpes virus 1 (the main cause of cold sores) to eliminate the tumors directly. Some of these treatments have already started testing them in people, and showed a promise in early clinical trials so far.