Immune Regulation News 9.43 November 10, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYImmune Cells Mistake Heart Attacks for Viral Infections A study led by Kevin King, a bioengineer and physician at the University of California, San Diego, has found that the immune system plays a surprising role in the aftermath of heart attacks. The research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for heart disease. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Researchers present the transcriptomic changes in cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) resulting from CD4+ T cell help after anti-cancer vaccination or virus infection. The gene expression signatures revealed that CD4+ T cell help during priming optimized CTLs in expression of cytotoxic effector molecules and many other functions that ensured efficacy of CTLs throughout their life cycle. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract The Cytokine TGF-β Promotes the Development and Homeostasis of Alveolar Macrophages The authors report that alveolar macrophages (AMs), in contrast to most other tissue macrophages, were dependent on transforming growth factor-β receptor (TGF-βR) signaling. Conditional deletion of TGF-βR in mice at different time points halted the development and differentiation of AMs. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract CD38-NAD+Axis Regulates Immunotherapeutic Anti-Tumor T Cell Response Scientists established ex vivo culture conditions to generate hybrid Th1/17 cells, which persisted long-term in vivo while maintaining their effector function. Using transcriptomics and metabolic profiling approaches, they showed that the enhanced anti-tumor property of Th1/17 cells was dependent on the increased NAD+-dependent activity of the histone deacetylase Sirt1. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract Using an autoimmune arthritis model, investigators showed that a constituent of the gut microbiota, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), distantly provoke lung pathology. SFB induced autoantibodies in lung during the pre-arthritic phase, and SFB-dependent lung pathology requires the T helper 17 (Th17) responses. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Researchers elucidated expression of tripartite motif-containing (TRIM)21 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and its role in regulating intestinal mucosal inflammation. TRIM21 played a protective role in mucosal inflammation through inhibiting T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cell differentiation. [J Allergy Clin Immunol] Abstract Investigators showed that exosomes from poorly metastatic melanoma cells can potently inhibit metastasis to the lung. These “non-metastatic” exosomes stimulated an innate immune response through the expansion of Ly6Clow patrolling monocytes in the bone marrow, which then caused cancer cell clearance at the pre-metastatic niche, via the recruitment of NK cells and TRAIL-dependent killing of melanoma cells by macrophages. [Nat Commun] Full Article Metabolic Control of Regulatory T Cell (Treg) Survival and Function by Lkb1 Scientists showed that the metabolic sensor LKB1 is critical to maintain cellular metabolism and energy homeostasis in Tregs. Treg-specific deletion of Lkb1 in mice caused loss of Treg number and function, leading to a fatal, early-onset autoimmune disorder. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article | Press Release Blocking Immunosuppression by Human Tregs In Vivo with Antibodies Targeting Integrin αvβ8 The authors showed that αVβ8 dimers are present on stimulated human Tregs but not in other T cells, and that antibodies against αV or β8 subunits block TGF-β1 activation in vitro. They also showed that αV and β8 interact with GARP/latent TGF-β1 complexes in human Tregs. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Researchers report mechanistic insights into this association in multiple immunocompetent orthotopic models of lung cancer. After tumor engraftment, they observed systemic activation of the complement cascade as reflected by elevated levels of the key regulator C3a. [Cancer Res] Abstract Capacity of tTreg Generation Is Not Impaired in the Atrophied Thymus The authors mechanistically studied thymic regulatory T (tTreg) cell generation in the atrophied thymus by utilizing both postnatal thymic epithelial cell-defective and naturally aged mouse models. They found that the capacity of tTreg cell generation was not impaired compared to CD4+ thymic conventional T cells, suggesting thymic atrophy positively influences tTreg cell generation. [PLoS Biol] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immunology of Infectious Disease News. | |
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REVIEWSSentinels of the Type 2 Immune Response Scientists discuss advances in the understanding of the interacting cellular subsets that comprise both primary and secondary type 2 responses. The studies described portray an immune response that depends upon well-organized tissue structures, and suggest their modulation as a therapeutic strategy. [Trends Immunol] Abstract Immune Checkpoint Inhibition: Prospects for Prevention and Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma The authors review the roles that immune cells and cytokines have in the development of the most common primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma. [Clin Transl Immunology] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immune regulation research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSNektar Therapeutics presented preclinical data on NKTR-358, a potential first-in-class resolution therapeutic that may address the underlying immune system imbalance in patients with many immune conditions. [Press release from Nektar Therapeutics discussing research presented at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ACR/ARHP) Annual Meeting, San Diego] Press Release Ignyta Announces New Data Highlighting Immune Modulation of RXDX-106 Ignyta, Inc. announced new preclinical data for RXDX-106 – a novel immunomodulatory agent that demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity, alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, by modulating the tumor microenvironment through TYRO3, AXL, and MER receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition. [Press release from Ignyta, Inc. discussing research presented at the 32nd Annual Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Meeting, National Harbor] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSSeattle Genetics, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced dosing of the first patient in EV-103, a Phase Ib clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of enfortumab vedotin in combination with pembrolizumab or atezolizumab, two types of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, for first- or second-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. [Seattle Genetics, Inc.] Press Release BioLife Solutions, Inc. and SAVSU announced both companies are providing their respective enhanced cold chain technologies for use in eight active and pending clinical trials conducted by the Diabetes Center and Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. [BioLife Solutions, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSUS Government Approves ‘Killer’ Mosquitoes to Fight Disease The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of a common bacterium to kill wild mosquitoes that transmit viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika. The agency told biotechnology start-up MosquitoMate that it could release the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis into the environment as a tool against the Asian tiger mosquito. [Nature News] Editorial WHO Calls for Restrictions on Use of Antibiotics in Food Animal Production The World Health Organization is urging countries to restrict the amount of antibiotics given in food animal production by prohibiting their routine use in growth promotion and disease prevention. The recommendation is one of a number the WHO issued aimed at preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. [STAT News] Editorial Court Demands that Search Engines and Internet Service Providers Block Sci-Hub The American Chemical Society (ACS) has won a lawsuit against Sci-Hub, a website providing illicit free access to millions of paywalled scientific papers. ACS had alleged copyright infringement, trademark counterfeiting and trademark infringement; a district court in Virginia ruled that Sci-Hub should pay the ACS $4.8 million in damages after Sci-Hub representatives failed to attend court. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Keystone Symposia: B Cells: Mechanisms in Immunity and Autoimmunity Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Position & PhD Position – Regulatory B Cells (Inserm) Research Technologist – Immunotherapy (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Positions – Immunology & Ion Channels (New York University School of Medicine) Assistant, Associate, or Full Member – Cancer Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Signaling Pathways (Universite de Liege) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (University of Rochester Medical Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (University of California, Los Angeles) Research Fellow Position – Immunology Research (ShanghaiTech University) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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