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This year's prestigious award in Physiology or Medicine was granted for revolutionary findings that illuminate how the immune system targets dangerous infections while protecting the body's own cells.

Three esteemed scientists—from Japan Shimon Sakaguchi and American experts Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell—received this honor.

The research identified unique "security guards" within the defense system that eliminate rogue defense cells capable of attacking the organism.

The discoveries are now paving the way for innovative therapies for immune disorders and cancer.

The laureates will divide a monetary award valued at 11m SEK.

Decisive Discoveries

"Their work has been essential for comprehending how the body's defenses functions and why we do not all suffer from severe self-attack conditions," commented the head of the award panel.

The team's studies explain a fundamental question: How does the defense system protect us from countless invaders while keeping our healthy cells unharmed?

Our immune system uses white blood cells that scan for signs of disease, even pathogens and bacteria it has not met before.

These defenders employ sensors—called recognition units—that are generated randomly in countless variations.

That provides the immune system the ability to fight a broad range of threats, but the randomness of the mechanism inevitably creates immune cells that can target the host.

Protectors of the Immune System

Researchers previously knew that a portion of these harmful defense cells were destroyed in the immune organ—the site where immune cells develop.

The latest Nobel Prize recognizes the discovery of T-reg cells—described as the body's "peacekeepers"—which patrol the body to neutralize other immune cells that assault the healthy cells.

We know that this mechanism fails in self-attack conditions such as type-1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and RA.

A Nobel panel stated, "The discoveries have established a new field of research and accelerated the development of innovative treatments, for instance for tumors and immune disorders."

Regarding cancer, regulatory T-cells prevent the system from attacking the tumor, so research are aimed at lowering their quantity.

For autoimmune diseases, trials are testing boosting regulatory T-cells so the organism is not under attack. A similar approach could also be useful in reducing the risks of transplanted organ failure.

Pioneering Studies

Professor Sakaguchi, of a Japanese institution, conducted experiments on rodents that had their immune gland removed, leading to autoimmune disease.

The researcher demonstrated that introducing immune cells from healthy animals could prevent the illness—suggesting there was a system for blocking immune cells from attacking the host.

Dr. Brunkow, affiliated with the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, and Dr. Ramsdell, currently at a biotech firm in San Francisco, were investigating an genetic autoimmune disease in mice and people that led to the identification of a gene critical for the way regulatory T-cells function.

"Their groundbreaking research has revealed how the immune system is kept in check by T-reg cells, stopping it from mistakenly targeting the healthy cells," said a prominent physiology specialist.

"This work is a striking example of how fundamental physiological research can have far-reaching consequences for public health."