Thought Leadership
It is indeed tragic that most Indians across generations are groomed from their formative years to subscribe to a flawed interpretation of the Karma theory and the caste system built on a fatalistic premise, which assumes without second thought that whatever happens (or does not happen) is the outcome of our good or bad karmaDr. B. S. Ajaikumar
Researchers discover protein masquerading as virus in certain tumours
- Date: 2024-03-04 05:35:02
- Author: Dr. BS Ajaikumar
An extremely rare but alarmingly serious complication of cancer makes the immune system go rogue, which then attacks the brain to cause rapid-onset memory loss and cognitive deficits. The cause of this biological mayhem was hitherto unknown, but University of Utah Health researchers have now found that some tumors can release a protein PNMA2 which resembles a virus, and kickstarts an out-of-control immune reaction that could cause memory and behavioural changes, loss of coordination, and even seizures.
PNMA2 is normally is expressed in the brain but when a tumor elsewhere in the body starts producing PNMA2 protein, the immune system treats it like an foreign invader and doesn't just attack the cancer-produced PNMA2 but also parts of the brain that produce PNMA2 normally, including regions involved in memory, learning, and movement.
The researchers are now studying what causes patients' rapid cognitive decline: whether antibodies, or immune cells entering the brain, or a combination of the two.