Tweaking the Body’s Serial Killer: The T-Cell

Published Fri, Feb 24th, 2012   Wall Street Daily Research

Scientists say t-cells are among the smallest, but deadliest cells in the human body. The cells normally defend the body against infections and cancers, but they sometimes turn against it and attack rather than defend healthy cells.

But by examining individuals with key blood-protein genetic mutations, researchers hope to learn how t-cells turn from defender to attacker. Such findings may allow the cells’ behavior to be harnessed for specific immunity defense purposes, and keep them from turning against the human body.