Karolinska Institutet - Latest News Update, Information, Photos & Videos on Karolinska Institutet at Lokmat Times

The deadly cancer-like condition known as Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) primarily affects youngsters and, in extreme circumstances, can be fatal. In Sweden, the illness affects five to ten kids annually, usually before the age of ten.Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital have pinpointed the causes of the severe cancer-like condition LCH. Science Immunology's findings might inspire the development of fresh, specialised therapies.LCH is a disease in which the cancer mutation occurs in the immune cells, which otherwise have the task of detecting and eliminating cancer cells."The origin of the LCH cells has been discussed for decades. Some researchers are convinced that LCH is derived from a certain type of immune cell called dendritic cells, while others believe that they come from related cells called monocytes," says Egle Kvedaraite, a doctor and researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet and first author of the new study.The researchers from Karolinska Institutet together with scientists from Singapore Immunology Network and Newcastle University have now been able to show that both theories are close to the truth. The researchers combined so-called single-cell sequencing, the microscopy of samples and the tracking of cells from patients recruited from, among others, Karolinska University Hospital.They discovered that mutated LCH cells had properties similar to both monocytes and dendritic cells, as well as a relatively newly discovered type of dendritic cell, so-called dendritic cell type 3 (DC3)."Today we know that DC3 has a separate pathway of development, separate from other dendritic cells and monocytes, and knowledge of this was crucial in our study," says Egle Kvedaraite.Researchers discovered that the different cell types could communicate with each other to promote the development of LCH and thereby create a self-reinforcing effect."Among the treatment options for LCH, targeted therapy can be successfully applied, but the disease comes back when the targeted treatment is discontinued. This poses a serious challenge for patients, as a lifelong treatment for children is not a good option given the side effects," says Egle Kvedaraite.This new understanding of the origin of this type of cancer has the potential to contribute to the development of new targeted treatments."The findings could lead to a treatment aimed at eliminating the pathological cells," says Egle Kvedaraite.The research was funded by grants from the Erik and Edith Fernstrom Foundation for Medical Research, the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Histiocytosis Association, the VIVA Foundation for children with cancer, the Wellcome Trust, the CRUK Biomarker Project, Histio UK and Bright Red.( With inputs from ANI )Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Karolinska InstitutetFOLLOW

Karolinska institutet, Latest News

Washington [US], April 15 : Early identification and treatment of Alzheimer's disease need the use of trustworthy and cost-effective ... ...

Solna [Sweden], April 6 : Researchers found that those with obesity who have a genetic tendency for high BMI ... ...

Solna [Sweden], March 24 : Women suffering from mental illness, neuropsychiatric disability, or substance addiction are less likely to ... ...

Solna [Sweden], March 14 : Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden discovered that the hunger ... ...

According to a recent study from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, mice ... ...

At least in mice, physical activity at the appropriate time of day appears to be able to enhance fat ... ...

A twin study exploring this relatively new type of eating disorder found that hereditary factors had a significant impact ... ...

The deadly cancer-like condition known as Langerhans' Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) primarily affects youngsters and, in extreme circumstances, can be ... ...