Tasuku Honjo is a Japanese immunologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2018 for his discovery of PD-1, a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system.
Imagine Tasuku Honjo as the conductor of an orchestra. He directs and coordinates the different sections (immune cells) to create beautiful music (a strong immune response) against diseases like cancer.
PD-1: A protein discovered by Tasuku Honjo that acts as an "off switch" for immune cells, preventing them from attacking healthy cells.
Immune System: The body's defense mechanism against pathogens and abnormal cells.
Cancer Immunotherapy: Treatments that harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer, often by blocking proteins like PD-1.
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