LaJolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology

A new study has found how immune system 'talk' drives the inflammation seen in severe asthma

Medical

Stopping immune system 'talk' may provide treatment for severe asthma

Researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanisms that drive the inflammatory response in severe asthmatics. Their findings may lead to the development of an effective treatment for the potentially life-threatening condition.

New research has uncovered a key immune mechanism that is responsible for the thickening of airway muscle associated with chronic asthma

Medical

Asthma breakthrough uncovers key mechanism behind airway thickening

New research from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology has brought a novel, long-term treatment for severe asthma a step closer, presenting a potential way to block the thickening of airway muscle tissue seen in chronic asthma patients.

Researchers have identified new particles in the bloodstream, which appear to break off immune cells called neutrophils

Medical

New particle discovered in the bloodstream of patients with sepsis

A brand new type of particle has been discovered in the human bloodstream. The sausage-shaped structures were first found by researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology in mice with sepsis, and they appear to be related to inflammatory disease.

Clumps of a damaged protein called alpha-synuclein gather on the dopamine-producing brain cells of patients with Parkinson's disease, triggering an autoimmune response from T cells

Medical

Blood analysis reveals signs of Parkinson's 10 years before diagnosis

In 2017, scientists found the first direct evidence that autoimmunity may play a role in the onset of Parkinson’s disease, and have now uncovered further evidence of how the immune system contributes to the development of the disease.

In this image of the immune system attacking a virus, the Y-shaped stalks on the cells below are the epitopes

Biology

Immune system discovery likened to finding a new continent

Researchers have made a breakthrough in identifying the way cells send up flags to the body's immune system – a discovery that could have a significant impact on how we develop vaccines or treat autoimmune diseases.