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The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was granted for revolutionary findings that clarify how the body's defense network targets dangerous infections while sparing the healthy tissues.

Three renowned researchers—Japan's Prof. Sakaguchi and US experts Mary Brunkow and Dr. Ramsdell—share this honor.

The work uncovered unique "security guards" within the defense system that eliminate malfunctioning immune cells that could attacking the body.

The discoveries are now paving the way for innovative treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

These laureates will share a monetary award valued at 11 million Swedish kronor.

Crucial Discoveries

"Their work has been essential for understanding how the body's defenses functions and the reason we do not all develop severe autoimmune diseases," stated the head of the Nobel Committee.

This trio's research explain a core mystery: In what way does the immune system protect us from numerous invaders while keeping our healthy cells unharmed?

Our immune system employs immune cells that search for signs of disease, including pathogens and germs it has never encountered.

These cells utilize sensors—known as recognition units—that are produced randomly in a vast number of combinations.

That provides the defense network the ability to fight a broad range of invaders, but the unpredictability of the mechanism inevitably creates white blood cells that can target the body.

Protectors of the Immune System

Researchers earlier understood that a portion of these problematic white blood cells were destroyed in the thymus—the site where white blood cells mature.

This year's award honors the identification of T-reg cells—known as the immune system's "peacekeepers"—which travel through the system to disarm any immune cells that attack the body's own tissues.

It is known that this mechanism fails in self-attack conditions such as type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The prize committee added, "The discoveries have established a new field of investigation and accelerated the development of innovative therapies, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases."

Regarding malignancies, regulatory T-cells prevent the system from attacking the tumor, so research are aimed at reducing their numbers.

In self-attack disorders, experiments are exploring increasing T-reg cells so the organism is not being harmed. A similar approach could also be useful in reducing the chances of organ transplant rejection.

Innovative Studies

Professor Sakaguchi, of a Japanese institution, performed experiments on rodents that had their thymus removed, leading to autoimmune disease.

He showed that introducing immune cells from healthy mice could stop the disease—implying there was a system for preventing defenders from harming the host.

Dr. Brunkow, from the Institute for Systems Biology in a US city, and Fred Ramsdell, now at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in a California city, were investigating an genetic autoimmune disease in mice and humans that resulted in the identification of a genetic factor vital for the way T-regs function.

"The groundbreaking research has revealed how the immune system is controlled by T-reg cells, stopping it from accidentally targeting the healthy cells," said a leading physiology specialist.

"The work is a striking illustration of how fundamental physiological study can have broad implications for public health."