The study's lead author, Dr. Vera Gorbunova, says that the naked mole rat's immune system is unlike that of any other mammal. "The naked mole rat is a very unique animal," says Gorbunova. "It's the only mammal that is known to be completely resistant to cancer."
Gorbunova and her team found that the naked mole rat's immune system is able to quickly identify and destroy cancerous cells by producing a high level of a protein called p16. This protein is a tumor suppressor that helps to prevent cells from dividing uncontrollably.
The researchers also found that the naked mole rat's immune system is able to recognize and destroy cancerous cells even if they are hidden within healthy tissue. This is because the naked mole rat has a very low level of a protein called MMP-2, which is an enzyme that helps cancer cells to invade healthy tissue.
The discovery of the naked mole rat's strong immune system could lead to new treatments for cancer in humans. Gorbunova says that the researchers hope to learn more about how the naked mole rat's immune system works and to apply this knowledge to the development of new cancer therapies.
"We are very excited about the potential implications of this research," says Gorbunova. "We believe that the naked mole rat's immune system could provide us with new insights into how to prevent and treat cancer in humans."
