Latest news with #WIS
News18
4 days ago
- Health
- News18
Why Doesn't The Immune System Attack Food? Israeli Scientists Have Found The Answer
Last Updated: Researchers from an Israeli institute have identified special immune cells that help the body treat food as harmless, preventing inflammation from everyday meals Why doesn't our immune system attack the food we eat? To solve this mystery, scientists in Israel have discovered a group of special immune cells that help the body digest food safely, without triggering a harmful response. These newly identified cells play a crucial role in preventing the immune system from attacking food, a process known as oral tolerance. According to news agency Xinhua, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) in Israel found that these immune cells ensure food is treated as harmless, thus preventing inflammation caused by everyday meals. This discovery could pave the way for better understanding and treatment of food-related conditions. A Step Closer to Curing Food-Related Illnesses The findings may open new possibilities for treating diseases such as food allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease. By understanding how this immune tolerance works, scientists hope to identify what goes wrong when the immune system mistakenly treats food as a threat. What Experts Say Dr Ranit Kedmi from Weizmann's Department of Systems Immunology explained the discovery using an analogy: 'It's like a peace agreement. If an attacker crosses the border and fires a bullet, the army will still respond—despite the agreement. Similarly, the immune system has a mechanism that allows it to tolerate food, but it can still respond when needed." For years, scientists believed that certain immune cells called dendritic cells were responsible for oral tolerance. But when these cells were removed in animal studies, the immune system continued to tolerate food, suggesting that other cells were involved. In a study published in the Journal Nature, researchers identified a rare group of immune cells known as ROR-gamma-T cells as key players in this process. These cells trigger a chain reaction involving four types of immune cells, which ultimately prevents the body's attacking cells—called CD8 cells—from responding to food proteins. What Happens When the System Fails? When this system doesn't function properly, it can lead to conditions like food allergies or autoimmune responses to foods, such as gluten in coeliac disease. Interestingly, the researchers also found that during infections, the body can temporarily override oral tolerance to fight harmful microbes. Dr Kedmi also mentioned: 'It turns out the immune system has a much more divided structure than we thought. It's not just dendritic cells deciding whether to attack or not, some highly specialised cells are responsible for starting the process that allows us to eat safely." First Published: May 28, 2025, 16:07 IST
The Star
5 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Researchers uncover how body tolerates food without immune system attack
JERUSALEM, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli scientists have pinpointed a crucial network of immune cells that allows humans to digest food safely without triggering harmful reactions, the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) announced Tuesday. This discovery sheds new light on oral tolerance, the body's ability to recognize food as harmless and prevent an immune system attack. This vital system stops everyday foods from causing inflammation while still letting the immune system fight off infections. The breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for food allergies, sensitivities, and disorders like celiac disease. By understanding how this system works, scientists hope to correct what goes wrong when the body mistakenly attacks food. For a long time, scientists believed certain immune cells called dendritic cells were responsible for oral tolerance. However, even when these cells were removed in animal studies, the body still tolerated food. Now, WIS researchers, in a study preprinted by Nature, have identified another group of immune cells, called ROR-gamma-t cells, as the real drivers of this process. These rare cells kick off a chain reaction involving four different cell types, ultimately preventing the body's attack cells, known as CD8 cells, from reacting to food. When this system fails, it can lead to food allergies, sensitivities, or diseases where the body mistakenly attacks food proteins, such as gluten. The researchers also found that during an infection, the immune system can temporarily override food tolerance to fight off microbes, before returning to its normal peacekeeping role.
Arab News
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
New Zealand win toss, bat against South Africa in second semi
LAHORE: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to bat against South Africa in the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday. New Zealand kept the same team that lost to India by 44 runs in their last Group A match in Dubai on Sunday. South African skipper Temba Bavuma returned to the team after missing the last Group B game against England due to health problems, replacing Tristan Stubbs. Top-order batter Aiden Markram — who deputised for Bavuma in the last game — also recovered in time from a hamstring problem. The winners will play India in the final in Dubai on Sunday. South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI) For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
