Autosomal Recessive Phosphoglucomutase 3 (PGM3) Mutations Link Glycosylation Defects to Atopy, Immune Deficiency, Autoimmunity, and Neurocognitive Impairment Researchers sought to define a genetic syndrome of severe atopy, increased serum IgE levels, immune deficiency, autoimmunity, and motor and neurocognitive impairment. [J Allergy Clin Immun] Abstract | Press ReleaseQuantitative Reconstruction of Leukocyte Subsets Using DNA Methylation Investigators developed an approach that uses DNA methylation to simultaneously quantify multiple leukocyte subsets, enabling the investigation of immune modulations in virtually any blood sample including archived samples previously precluded from such analysis. Here they assessed the performance characteristics and validity of this approach. [Genome Biol]Abstract | Full Article | Press Release Enhancement of T Cell Responses as a Result of Synergy between Lower Doses of Radiation and T Cell Stimulation Scientists report enhanced T cell function induced by synergistic radiation treatment, with potential physiological significance in a wide range of T cell responses. [J Immunol]Abstract T Helper 17 Cell Cytokines and Interferon Type I: Partners in Crime in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus? Recently, T helper 17 subset (Th17 cells), which produces IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22, has been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As CCR6 enriches for Th17 cells, researchers used this approach to investigate whether CCR6+ memory T helper cells producing IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and/or IL-22 are increased in SLE patients and whether this increase is related to the presence of interferon type I signature. [Arthritis Res Ther]Abstract | Full Article Ex Vivo Expanded Human Regulatory T Cells Delay Islet Allograft Rejection via Inhibiting Islet-Derived Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Production in CD34+ Stem Cells-Reconstituted NOD-scid IL2rγnull Mice Investigators developed a pre-clinical model of human islet transplantation by reconstituting NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice with cord blood-derived human CD34+ stem cells and demonstrated that although the engrafted human immune system mediated the rejection of human islets, their survival was significantly prolonged following adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded human regulatory T cells. [PLoS One]Full Article Preferential Infiltration of IL-4-Producing CXCR4+ T Cells in the Lesional Muscle but Not Skin of Patients with Dermatomyositis To investigate the difference between muscle- and skin-infiltrating T cells and to address their role for myopathy, researchers characterized T cells that were directly expanded from the tissues. [Clin Exp Immunol]Abstract Luteinizing Hormone Contributes to Fetal Tolerance by Regulating Adaptive Immune Responses Recently, the authors showed that human chorionic gonadotropin not only increases the number and activity of regulatory T cells (Treg) but also retains tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs). Here, they investigated whether the highly homologous luteinizing hormone modulates Treg number and DC phenotype and thereby supports pregnancy. [Am J Reprod Immunol]Abstract Allogeneic Lymphocyte-Licensed Dendritic Cells Expand T Cells with Improved Antitumor Activity and Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Immunosuppressive Factors Scientists demonstrated that when irradiated and preactivated allosensitized allogeneic lymphocytes are used as helper cells to license OKT3-armed allogeneic mature dendritic cells, together they expand target T cells of high quality. [Mol Ther – Methods Clin Dev]Full Article | Press Release |