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A Japanese study shows that the immune system of women ages at a slower rate than that of men.

The age-related decline in the number of T cells and B cells, and in the proliferative capacity of T cells, was greater in men than in women.

Eritoran, a synthetic TLR4 antagonist, has been found to prevent influenza-induced lethality in mice, reducing lung pathology, clinical symptoms, cytokine and oxidized phospholipid expression, and viral titres.

Influenza, and in particular new pandemic strains, can cause acute lung injury by provoking an extreme immune response. Using Eritoran to block TLR signalling represents a novel approach for reducing inflammation and injury associated with influenza, and possibly other infections.

There is growing evidence that adaptive immunity contributes to regeneration processes, for example bone fracture repair is modulated by T cells even in the absence of infection.

New research has shown a bone regeneration can be affected by T cells. Delayed fracture healing was associated with high levels of CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood.

Doctors have treated 5 patients with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) using T Cells genetically modified to target CD19, a protein found on the surface of B-cells.

Cytokine elevations directly correlated to tumor burden at the time of CAR-modified T cell infusions, with some patients requiring steroid therapy to ameliorate cytokine-mediated toxicities.

Further information is available from MSKCC on both the research results and the ongoing clinical trial.

A meta-analysis of swine flu studies from 19 countries found that between 20% and 27% of the population showed antibodies consistent with swine flu infection within a year of the start of the pandemic in 2009.

The results varied significantly by age. The infection rates were highest in children aged 5–19 years (39% to 55%) and 0–4 years (30% to 43%), while 8% to 24% of people older than 65 had some preexisting immunity.