Dec. 17, 2012 How can the immune system be reprogrammed once it
goes on the attack against its own body? EPFL scientists
retrained T-cells involved in type I diabetes, a common
autoimmune disease. Using a modified protein, they precisely
targeted the white blood cells (T-lymphocytes, or T-cells) that
were attacking pancreatic cells and causing the disease. When
tested on laboratory mice, the therapy eliminated all signs of
the pathology. This same method could be a very promising avenue
for treating multiple sclerosis as well. The scientists have
just launched a start-up company, Anokion SA, on the Lausanne
campus, and are planning to conduct clinical trials within the
next two years. Their discovery has been published in the
journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science).
To retrain the rebellious white blood cells, the researchers
began with a relatively simple observation: every day, thousands
of our cells die. Each time a cell bites the dust, it sends out
a message to the immune system. If