UC Santa Barbara researchers discover light-activated "appetizer" enhances macrophage efficiency in cancer cell consumption.

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that giving macrophages, immune system white blood cells, a light-activated "appetizer" increases their hunger for cancer cells. This new approach could enhance cancer immunotherapies by making macrophages more efficient at eating cancer cells. The study suggests macrophages' appetite peaks around an hour after initial trigger before dipping and rising again for a sustained period after four hours, offering a new type of immune memory.

August 12, 2024
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