Human Immunology News

Human Immunology News is an online publication and email newsletter for researchers studying the human immune system.

Closing the Gender Health Gap Is a $1 Trillion Opportunity

May 23, 2024

[Biopharma Dealmakers] For centuries, women’s health has been neglected across science, medicine and technology. A new report from the World Economic Forum suggests tackling this could unlock a $1 trillion economic boost with the potential to change the lives of 3.9 billion women.

Mapping Variant Effects on Anti-Tumor Hallmarks of Primary Human T Cells With Base-Editing Screens

May 23, 2024

[Nature Biotechnology] Base editing of PIK3CD and PIK3R1 variants in T cells with an engineered T cell receptor specific to a melanoma epitope or in different generations of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells demonstrated that discovered gain of function variants enhanced signaling, cytokine production and lysis of cognate melanoma and leukemia cell models, respectively.

HIV-1 RNA in Extracellular Vesicles Is Associated with Neurocognitive Outcomes

May 23, 2024

[Nature Communications] In a cross-sectional study of 84 HIV+ individuals of whom 43 were followed longitudinally, investigators found that HIV-1 RNAs are present in extracellular vesicles derived from cerebrospinal fluid and serum of all individuals.

Gastric Cancer Immune Microenvironment Score Predicts Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Efficacy and Prognosis

May 23, 2024

[Journal of Pathology Clinical Research] Investigators verified the predictive value of tumor-infiltrating immune cells on the treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer, and explored the impact of NACT on the tumor immune microenvironment.

Analysis of the Components of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Heat-Resistant Antigen (Mtb-HAg) and Its Regulation of γδ T Cell Function

May 22, 2024

[Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters] Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat-resistant antigen (Mtb-HAg) from the attenuated Mtb H37Ra strain was analyzed by LC‒MS mass spectrometry, and a total of 564 proteins were identified.

γδ T Cell Profiling in a Cohort of Preterm Infants Reveals Elevated Frequencies of CD83+ γδ T Cells in Sepsis

May 21, 2024

[Journal Of Experimental Medicine] γδ T cells were investigated in a longitudinal cohort of preterm neonates using next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, and functional assays. During the first year of life, the Vγ9Vδ2 T cell subset showed dynamic phenotypic changes and elevated levels of fetal-derived Vγ9Vδ2 T cells were evident in infants with sepsis.

Development and Interpretation of a Pathomics-Driven Ensemble Model for Predicting the Response to Immunotherapy in Gastric Cancer

May 21, 2024

[Journal Of Immunotherapy of Cancer] Investigators developed and validated a pathomics-driven ensemble model for predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer, using H&E-stained whole slide images.

Fulminant Hepatitis in a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Patient with Adult T-Cell Leukemia-Lymphoma after Mogamulizumab Monotherapy

May 21, 2024

[Hepatology Research] Scientists reported a case of fulminant hepatitis in a hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patient with aggressive adult T cell leukemia-lymphoma who received monotherapy with an anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody, mogamulizumab, with decreased hepatitis B virus- DNA levels by entecavir prophylaxis.

A Bispecific Antibody Targeting HLA-DQ2.5-Gluten Peptides Potently Blocks Gluten-Specific T Cells Induced by Gluten Ingestion in Patients With Celiac Disease

May 21, 2024

[Clinical Immunology] Investigators assessed the ability of DONQ52 to inhibit coeliac disease patient-derived T cell responses to the most immunogenic gluten peptides encompassing immunodominant T cell epitopes.

Bevacizumab Induces Ferroptosis and Enhances CD8+ T Cell Immune Activity in Liver Cancer via Modulating HAT1 and Increasing IL-9

May 21, 2024

[Acta Pharmacologica Sinica] Researchers investigated whether and how bevacizumab regulated ferroptosis and immune activity in liver cancer. They performed RNA-sequencing in bevacizumab-treated human liver cancer cell line HepG2 cells, and found that bevacizumab significantly altered the expression of a number of genes including VEGF, PI3K, HAT1, SLC7A11 and IL-9 in liver cancer, bevacizumab upregulated 37 ferroptosis-related drivers.

Keratinocytes Present Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxins and Promote Malignant and Non-Malignant T Cell Proliferation in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

May 21, 2024

[Journal Of Investigative Dermatology] Researchers showed that expression of HLA-DR, high-affinity receptors for Staphylococcal enterotoxins, by keratinocytes correlated with IFN-γ expression in the tumor microenvironment. Importantly, IFN-γ induced HLA-DR, SE-binding, and SE-presentation by keratinocytes to malignant T-cells from Sézary syndrome patients.

Arming Vδ2 T Cells With Chimeric Antigen Receptors to Combat Cancer

May 21, 2024

[Clinical Cancer Research] The authors present how arming Vδ2-T cells might be the basis for next-generation immunotherapies against solid tumors. Following a comprehensive overview of γδ T cell biology and innovative CAR engineering strategies, we will discuss the clinical potential of Vδ2 CAR-T cells to overcome the current limitations of immunotherapy in solid tumors.

Each issue of Human Immunology News provides up-to-date coverage of the latest news in immunology research performed using human cells or subjects. Our expert editors hand-pick recent research papers and review articles from relevant high-impact peer-reviewed journals on topics including immunotherapy, autoimmunity, adaptive, and innate immunity in humans. We also feature news on clinical trials, award announcements, and funding opportunities.