Natural Killer Cell Responses in Tasmanian Devils
Author Information
Author(s): Brown Gabriella K., Kreiss Alexandre, Lyons A. Bruce, Woods Gregory M.
Primary Institution: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania
Hypothesis
Can Tasmanian devils form cytotoxic antitumor responses against devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) cells?
Conclusion
Tasmanian devils can produce cytotoxic responses and antibodies against foreign tumor cells, but not against DFTD cells.
Supporting Evidence
- Tasmanian devils did not form cytotoxic responses against DFTD cells after immunization.
- Three out of four devils developed cytotoxic responses against K562 cells after immunization.
- Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) was observed in the presence of immune serum.
Takeaway
Tasmanian devils can fight off some cancers with their immune system, but they struggle against a specific cancer that is threatening their survival.
Methodology
The study involved immunizing Tasmanian devils with irradiated DFTD cells and xenogenic K562 cells, followed by testing for cytotoxic responses and antibody production.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the limited genetic diversity of Tasmanian devils affecting immune response.
Limitations
The study was limited by the small sample size and the inability to induce effective immune responses against DFTD cells.
Participant Demographics
The study involved healthy female Tasmanian devils housed in captivity.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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