Maintaining self-control -- The careful balance of the immune system

(University of Tsukuba) Researchers from the University of Tsukuba determined in mice that a balance between two receptor molecules, called DNAM-1 and TIGIT, helps tell the immune system whether to fight or hold back. In the absence of DNAM-1, TIGIT can produce more signals that suppress activation of certain immune cells, such as regulatory T cells. The balance between these two receptors may be a novel mechanism that can be therapeutically targeted to fight autoimmune diseases.