T-Cell Receptor Recognition of HLA-DQ2-Gliadin Complexes Associated with Celiac Disease Celiac disease is a T cell-mediated disease induced by dietary gluten, a component of which is gliadin. 95% of individuals with celiac disease carry the HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-DQ2 locus. Researchers determined the T-cell receptor usage and fine specificity of patient-derived T-cell clones specific for two epitopes from wheat gliadin, DQ2.5-glia-α1a and DQ2.5-glia-α2. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract | Press Release Voluntary Activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System and Attenuation of the Innate Immune Response in Humans Researchers evaluated the effects of a training program on the autonomic nervous system and innate immune response. All subjects underwent experimental endotoxemia. In the intervention group, plasma levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased more rapidly after endotoxin administration, correlated strongly with preceding epinephrine levels, and were higher. Levels of proinflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 were lower in the intervention group and correlated negatively with IL-10 levels. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Recombinant Immunotoxin for Cancer Treatment with Low Immunogenicity by Identification and Silencing of Human T-Cell Epitopes Using human cells, investigators identified eight helper T-cell epitopes in PE38, a portion of the bacterial protein Pseudomonas exotoxin A which consists of the toxin moiety of the recombinant immunotoxin, and used this information to make LMB-T18 in which three epitopes were deleted and five others diminished by point mutations in key residues. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Autologous T Cell Therapy for Cytomegalovirus as a Consolidative Treatment for Recurrent Glioblastoma Researchers reported findings of a formal clinical assessment of safety and potential clinical efficacy of autologous cytomegalovirus-specific T cell therapy as a consolidative treatment for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. [Cancer Res] Abstract Differential Effect of Vitamin D on NOD2- and TLR-Induced Cytokines in Crohn’s Disease Using peripheral mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells from Crohn’s disease, it was found that the hormonal form of vitamin D decreased Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced cytokine production and enhanced cytokine levels induced by muramyl dipeptide, the NOD2 ligand. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract KIR/HLA Interactions Negatively Affect Rituximab- but Not GA101 (Obinutuzumab)-Induced Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by NK cells is regulated by inhibitory killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs), which interact with target cell HLA class I. Investigators analyzed how KIR/HLA interactions influence ADCC induced by rituximab and by GA101, a novel type II CD20 Ab glycoengineered for increased FcgRIII binding and ADCC capacity. [J Immunol] Abstract Phorbol Myristate Acetate, but Not CD40L, Induces the Differentiation of CLL B Cells into Ab-Secreting Cells Scientists investigated the capacity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells to undergo terminal differentiation into Ig-secreting plasma cells in T cell-independent and T cell-dependent responses. [Immunol Cell Biol] Full Article CD56brightCD25+ NK Cells Are Preferentially Recruited to the Maternal/Fetal Interface in Early Human Pregnancy Researchers identified a subtype of decidual natural killer (dNK) cells characterized as having a CD3−CD56brightCD25+ phenotype. They found that CD56brightCD25+ NK cells preferentially localize to the maternal/fetal interface during early human pregnancy. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract |