Duke antibody helps the immune system find hidden cancer and infected cells
Some cancer cells and virus infected cells raise levels of a molecule called HLA-E, which normally tells the immune system to leave healthy cells alone. Duke researchers designed antibodies that latch tightly onto HLA-E, removing that cover and marking the diseased cells for destruction. In lab studies reported in Science Translational Medicine, the approach boosted natural killer cells and CD8 T cells against HIV infected cells and against cancer cell lines with high HLA-E. It also helped natural killer cells clear human tumor cells in mice. The team plans further studies in more realistic disease models and will look closely at safety, since healthy tissue also carries HLA-E.