Human Immunology News 5.13 April 4, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYTo investigate the clinical application of targeting Janus kinase (JAK) for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)− anaplastic large cell lymphoma, scientists treated ALK− cell lines of various histological origins with JAK inhibitors. Most exogenous cytokine-independent cell lines responded to JAK inhibition regardless of JAK mutation status. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Identification of Autoreactive B Cells with Labeled Nucleosomes Scientists propose a new flow cytometry technique for specific detection of anti-nucleosome B cells, which secrete autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus, using labeled nucleosomes. They produced different fluorochrome-labeled nucleosomes, characterized them, and finally tested them in flow cytometry. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers investigated the systemic differences in the frequency of T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cells in patients with non-exudative and exudative age-related macular degeneration and compared to age-matched controls. Flow cytometry was used to determine the systemic frequency of Th1 and Th17 cells, and percentage of CD4+ T-cells expressing CXCR3, IL12RB2, CCR6, IL23R, and co-expressing CXCR3 and CCR6. [Sci Rep] Full Article The authors demonstrated that thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) enhances human CD14+ monocyte CCL17 production in response to LPS and IL-4. Only a subset of CD14+ CD16− monocytes, TSLPR+ monocytes, expressed TSLP receptor (TSLPR) complex upon LPS stimulation in an NF-κB- and p38-dependent manner. [J Immunol] Abstract Investigators showed that low oxidative concentrations of H2O2 impede chemokinesis and chemotaxis of previously activated human T cells to CXCL11, but not CXCL10 or CXCL12. They showed that this deficiency in migration is due to a reduction in inflammatory chemokine receptor CXCR3 surface expression and cellular activation of lipid phosphatase SHIP-1. [J Immunol] Full Article Scientists selected pre-combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) samples of HIV-subjects with and without low CD4-recovery after cART. CD4 T-cell activation, senescence and exhaustion related markers were not found specifically altered before cART initiation. [Antiviral Res] Abstract Synergistic Targeting of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells by Human γδ T Cells and CD8+ T Cells To help develop novel immunotherapy approaches that efficiently target cancer stem cells (CSCs), an experimental model allowing reliable distinction of CSCs and non-CSCs was set up to study their interaction with non-MHC restricted γδ T cells and antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract | Full Article Regulation of Cell Surface CB2 Receptor during Human B Cell Activation and Differentiation To better understand the pattern of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) expression by human B cells, the authors examined CD20+ B cells from three tissue sources. Both surface and intracellular expression were present and uniform in cord blood B cells, where all cells exhibited a naïve mature phenotype. [J Neuroimmune Pharmacol] Abstract LRRK2 Levels in Immune Cells Are Increased in Parkinson’s Disease Researchers determined the expression pattern of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in immune cell subsets and correlated it with the immunophenotype of cells from Parkinson’s disease and healthy subjects. [npj Parkinsons Dis] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News & Immune Regulation News. | |
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REVIEWSMechanisms of Central Tolerance for B Cells Single-cell antibody cloning has revealed defects of B cell central tolerance in human autoimmune diseases and in several human immunodeficiency diseases caused by single gene mutations, which indicates the relevance of B cell tolerance to disease and suggests possible genetic pathways that regulate tolerance. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the human immunology research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSEleven Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced new preclinical data with VB4-845, the active pharmaceutical ingredient used to formulate Vicinium™ and Proxinium™, and deBouganin, the de-immunized payload used in the company’s systemically-administered drug candidates. [Press release from Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release | Poster Kite Pharma, Inc. announced two plenary presentations of positive data from the primary analysis of ZUMA-1 for its lead CAR-T candidate, axicabtagene ciloleucel, in patients with refractory aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. [Press release from Kite Pharma, Inc. discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release Oncodesign Presents its Latest Scientific Developments Oncodesign presented its latest scientific developments. They presented four scientific posters on the radiotracer’s preclinical results, and on the latest developments designed to promote new drug discoveries. [Press release from Oncodesign discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release Siamab Therapeutics, Inc. announced the presentation of two posters featuring new preclinical data for its novel anti-Sialyl-Tn (STn) antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and anti-STn, anti-CD3 bispecific antibodies. [Press release from Siamab Therapeutics, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release Nektar Therapeutics Presents New Preclinical Data for Its Immuno-Oncology Programs Nektar Therapeutics announced five preclinical data presentations for its immuno-oncology programs. [Press release from Nektar Therapeutics discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. demonstrated in preclinical models that its investigational drug PEGPH20 increases the number of cancer-fighting white blood cells accumulating in the tumor and the effectiveness of immunotherapies. [Press release from Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release OncoSec Medical Incorporated presented a poster that included preclinical data demonstrating the latest developments of OncoSec’s gene delivery platform in a murine melanoma model. [Press release from OncoSec Medical Incorporated discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release | Abstract Data captured by IsoCode, IsoPlexis Corporation’s single-cell precision engineering platform, detected a statistically significant association between the potency of CAR-T cell product prior to treatment and objective response of cancer patients post-treatment. [Press release from Isoplexis Corporation (PR Newswire Association LLC.) discussing research presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2017, Washington, D.C.] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSBristol-Myers Squibb Company and Foundation Medicine announced a collaboration that leverages Foundation Medicine’s comprehensive genomic profiling and molecular information solutions to identify predictive biomarkers such as Tumor Mutational Burden and Microsatellite Instability in patients enrolled across clinical trials investigating Bristol-Myers Squibb’s cancer immunotherapies. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release Novel 3D Cell-Based Assays Accelerate Discovery for Immuno-Oncology/CAR-T Therapies InSphero AG highlighted the unique advantages of its physiologically relevant 3D InSight™ Microtissue Platform to drive more efficient development of anti-cancer drugs and immuno-oncology approaches. [InSphero AG] Press Release Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. and its cellular therapy focused subsidiary, TNK Therapeutics, Inc., announced the results from the Hepatic ImmunoTherapy for Metastases-Selective Internal Radiation Therapy Study, a Phase Ib single arm trial testing its anti-CEA CAR-T administered regionally by hepatic artery infusion followed by selective internal radiation therapy in heavily pre-treated patients with CEA positive liver metastases. [Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release Nektar Therapeutics announced that it has begun dosing in a Phase I clinical study evaluating NKTR-358, the company’s new biologic therapy, which is being developed to treat a wide range of auto-immune diseases and inflammatory disorders. NKTR-358 selectively stimulates the growth and activation of regulatory T cells in the body in order to restore the body’s self-tolerance mechanisms. [Nektar Therapeutics] Press Release Novartis announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) filing and granted priority review for CTL019, an investigational chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, in relapsed and refractory (r/r) pediatric and young adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). [Novartis AG] Press Release Kite Pharma, Inc. announced that it has completed the rolling submission with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the BLA for axicabtagene ciloleucel as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. [Kite Pharma, Inc.] Press Release Kiadis Pharma Announces Positive Regulatory Update on ATIR101™ and ATIR201™ Kiadis Pharma N.V. announced that it has obtained regulatory approval from the national authority in Belgium to start its randomized, controlled, transatlantic Phase III clinical trial with ATIR101™ for acute leukemia in Belgium. [Kiadis Pharma N.V.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSBrazilian Scientists Reeling as Federal Funds Slashed by Nearly Half Brazilian scientists have been left horrified by a 44% slash to the federal science budget, announced by the country’s government. This will leave the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications with its lowest budget in at least 12 years at just 2.8 billion reais, equivalent to US$898 million — a 2.2 billion reais cut from the 5 billion reais of funding that the government had originally proposed for 2017. [Nature News] Editorial Genetic Details of Controversial ‘Three-Parent Baby’ Revealed When a US fertility clinic revealed last year that it had created a baby boy using a controversial technique that mixes DNA from three people, scientists were quick to raise the alarm. Some objected on ethical grounds, and others questioned the scientific claims made by the clinic’s leader, physician John Zhang. [Nature News] Editorial Few U.S. Animal Inspections Are Being Posted The Donald Trump administration appears to have reversed its decision to remove from public sight the results of past government inspections of animal research facilities. But getting hold of new inspection reports is proving to be another matter. An animal welfare researcher has found that only four reports have been posted during the first quarter of 2017. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Research Assistant – Immunology (University of Cambridge) Research Technologist – Cell Separation & Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.) Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Translational Immunology (The University of Utah) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Tumor Immunology (University of Oslo) Postdoctoral Fellow – Stromal Tissues Imprinting of Immune Cell Function (AstraZeneca) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune-Oncology (Johnson and Johnson) Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Immune System (Lund University) Research Investigator – Immuno-Oncology (Bristol-Meyers Squibb) Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Regulation and Human Diseases (The Wistar Institute) Bioinformatician – Immunology (KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc.) Assistant Associate – Cancer Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) 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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