Human Immunology News Volume 7.23 | Jun 18 2019

TOP STORY

A Cellular Census of Human Lungs Identifies Novel Cell States in Health and in Asthma

Researchers used single-cell transcriptomics to chart the cellular landscape of upper and lower airways and lung parenchyma in healthy lungs, and lower airways in asthmatic lungs. They report location-dependent airway epithelial cell states and a novel subset of tissue-resident memory T cells. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Fc Glycan-Mediated Regulation of Placental Antibody Transfer

Scientists used systems serology to define Fc features associated with antibody transfer. The Fc-profile of neonatal and maternal antibodies differed, skewed toward natural killer cell-activating antibodies. [Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

The Immune Cell Landscape in Kidneys of Patients with Lupus Nephritis

To develop mechanistic hypotheses of disease, the authors analyzed kidney samples from patients with lupus nephritis and from healthy control subjects using single-cell RNA sequencing. They revealed 21 subsets of leukocytes active in disease, including multiple populations of myeloid cells, T cells, natural killer cells and B cells that demonstrated both pro-inflammatory responses and inflammation-resolving responses. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Subsets of ILC3-ILC1-Like Cells Generate a Diversity Spectrum of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Human Mucosal Tissues

Investigators found that innate lymphoid cell (ILC)3s and ILC1s in human tonsils represented the ends of a spectrum that included additional discrete subsets. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Functional Paralysis of Human Natural Killer Cells by Alphaherpesviruses

Scientists demonstrated that varicella zoster virus potently impaired the ability of natural killer cells to respond to target cell stimulation in vitro, leading to a loss of both cytotoxic and cytokine responses. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

T-Cell Receptor Gene Therapy Targeting Melanoma-Associated Antigen-A4 by Silencing of Endogenous TCR Inhibits Tumor Growth in Mice and Human

Researchers report the development of immunotherapy using human lymphocytes transduced with a codon-optimized melanoma-associated antigen-A4 and HLA-A*2402-restricted T-cell receptor (TCR), which specifically downregulated endogenous TCR by small interfering RNA. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Biological Profile of Monocyte-Derived Macrophages in Coronary Heart Disease Patients: Implications for Plaque Morphology

The authors compared the monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) profile obtained from coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and healthy subjects, and they evaluated the association between CAD MDM profile and in vivo coronary plaque characteristics assessed by optical coherence tomography. [Sci Rep] Full Article

High-Throughput Sequencing of IgG B-Cell Receptors Reveals Frequent Usage of the Rearranged IGHV4-28/IGHJ4 Gene in Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia

To identify the characteristics of IgG B-cell receptor repertoires in immune thrombocytopenia, investigators took advantage of adaptor-ligation PCR and high-throughput DNA sequencing methods for analyzing the clone-based repertoires of IgG-expressing peripheral blood B cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Transcriptional Network Analysis Implicates Altered Hepatic Immune Function in NASH Development and Resolution

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was associated with alterations in blood immune cell populations, including conventional dendritic cells type 1 and 2, and cytotoxic CD8 T cells. Lobular inflammation and ballooning were associated with the accumulation of CD8 T cells in the liver. [Nat Metab] Abstract

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γδ T Cells: Pleiotropic Immune Effectors with Therapeutic Potential in Cancer

The authors outline both seminal work and recent advances in the understanding of how γδ T cells participate in tumor immunity and how their functions are regulated in experimental models of cancer. [Nat Rev Cancer] Abstract

Interferon-λ Orchestrates Innate and Adaptive Mucosal Immune Responses

Scientists highlight recent work showing that interferon (IFN)-λ inhibits virus dissemination within the body and limits the transmission of respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses to naive hosts. They also discuss findings indicating that IFN-λ can act on neutrophils to prevent invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

Metabolic Adaptations of Tissue-Resident Immune Cells

Researchers discuss the available data on the metabolic adaptation of immune cells to life in different tissue sites, within the broader framework of how functional adaptation versus maladaptation in the niche can affect tissue homeostasis. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the human immunology research field.

First Patient Dosing in Phase I Clinical Trial of Anti-CD20 CAR-T for Lymphoma in China

Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. announced that it has initiated its Phase I Clinical Trial of anti-CD20 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell targeting anti-CD19 treated, relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and small B-cell lymphoma patients in China, and dosed the first CD19 CAR-T relapsed DLBCL patient. [Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc.] Press Release

Ziopharm Oncology Announces FDA Clearance of IND for Sleeping Beauty TCR-T Cell Therapy Trial at NCI

Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. announced that the investigational new drug (IND) application submitted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has received clearance from the FDA for a clinical trial in solid tumors to evaluate T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapy utilizing Ziopharm’s Sleeping Beauty platform. [Ziopharm Oncology, Inc.] Press Release

CASI Pharmaceuticals Acquires Worldwide Rights to Commercialize Anti-CD19 T-Cell Therapy

CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the signing of a license agreement for exclusive worldwide license and commercialization rights to an autologous anti-CD19 T-cell therapy product from Juventas Cell Therapy Ltd. [CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Africa’s Science Academy Leads Push for Ethical Data Use

The African Academy of Sciences has started work on the continent’s first cross-disciplinary guidelines on how to collect, store and share research data and specimens in ways that protect study participants from exploitation and benefit African citizens. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Issues Executive Order that Could Reduce Scientific Advice

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on June 14 to cut back the number of advisory committees by at least a third by the end of September, according to a statement from the White House. The federal advisory committee system is the formal structure for government agencies to seek advice from experts including scientists. [The Scientist] Editorial

China Clamps Down on Foreign Use of Chinese Genetic Material and Data

China has announced new regulations for the use of human genetic resources that come from Chinese participants. The rules, announced on June 10, require international scientists using biomaterials from China to have a Chinese collaborator and go into effect on July 1. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 14^th World Congress on Inflammation Sydney 2019
September 15-19, 2019
Sydney, Australia

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Immunology (Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School)

Faculty Position – Immunology and Ion Channels (NYU Langone Health)

Scientific Manager – Immunology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Senior Research Assistant – Immunology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Boston University)

PhD Position – Infection Biology/Mucosal Immunology (RWTH University Hospital)

Researcher – Tumor Responses to Radiotherapy & Immunotherapy (University Hospital of Northern Norway)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Opportunities – Tumor Microenvironment/Immunology (Oregon Health & Science University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immunology and Bioengineering (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology of Enteric Infections (University of Utah)

Director of Research – Division of Translational Medicine & Human Genetics (University of Pennsylvania)

Assistant/Associate or Professor – Cancer Immunotherapy/Tumor Immunology (University of California, Irvine)

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