Human Immunology News Volume 1.09 | May 14 2013

A Distinct Evolution of the T Cell Repertoire Categorizes Treatment Refractory Gastrointestinal Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease
Investigators found that T cell receptor β CDR3 repertoire sequencing revealed patterns that could eventually serve as a disease biomarker of T cell alloreactivity in acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD). They identified T cell clones in gastrointestinal (GI) biopsies in a heterogeneous group of 15 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients with GI aGvHD symptoms. [Blood] Abstract

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Expression of Inflammatory Genes Is Upregulated in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Scientists performed high-throughput real-time RT-PCR to validate gene expression changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a large sample set of 928 type 1 diabetes patients and 922 control subjects. [Diabetes Care] Abstract

A Randomized Phase II Trial of Multi-Epitope Vaccination with Melanoma Peptides for Cytotoxic T-Cells and Helper T-Cells for Patients with Metastatic Melanoma (E1602)
This multicenter randomized trial was designed to evaluate whether melanoma helper peptides augment cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to a melanoma vaccine and improve clinical outcome in patients with advanced melanoma. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Phase I Study of Tremelimumab (CP-675206) Plus PF-3512676 (CPG 7909) in Patients with Melanoma or Advanced Solid Tumors
Tremelimumab, a fully human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 monoclonal antibody, and PF-3512676, a Toll-like receptor-9 agonist, are targeted immune modulators that elicit durable single-agent antitumor activity in advanced cancer. To determine the maximum tolerated dose of these agents combined during this phase I study, patients received intravenous tremelimumab every 12 weeks plus subcutaneous PF-3512676 weekly. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Involvement of CD244 in Regulating CD4⁺ T Cell Immunity in Patients with Active Tuberculosis
Researchers investigated the expression and function of CD244/2B4 on CD4⁺ T cells from active tuberculosis (TB) patients and latent infection individuals. Active TB patients had significantly elevated CD244/2B4 expression on M. tuberculosis antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells compared with latent infection individuals. [PLoS One] Full Article

Effects on Immune Cells of a New 1,8-Naphthyridin-2-One Derivative and Its Analogues as Selective CB2 Agonists: Implications in Multiple Sclerosis
Recently, a novel class of compounds, 1,8-naphthyridine, pyridine and quinoline derivatives have been demonstrated to show high CB2 receptor selectivity and affinity versus the CB1 receptor. Considering that the CB2 receptor is mainly expressed in cell and organs of the immune system, the authors assessed the potential immune-modulatory effects of these compounds in activated lymphocytes isolated from multiple sclerosis patients with respect to healthy controls. [PLoS One] Full Article

Activation, Dysfunction and Retention of T Cells in Vaccine Sites after Injection of Incomplete Freund’s Adjuvant, with or without Peptide
Researchers conducted a randomized clinical trial in 45 patients with resected AJCC stage IIB-IV melanoma to characterize cellular and molecular events at sites of immunization with incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) alone, or a melanoma vaccine in IFA. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract

Clinical Application of Regulatory T Cells in Type 1 Diabetes
The current knowledge regarding regulatory T cells (Tregs), along with the authors experience in Treg therapy of patients with graft versus host disease, prompted them to use ex vivo expanded Tregs in ten children with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. There was a significant increase in Treg number in peripheral blood immediately after the treatment administration, while the first clinical differences between treated and control patients were observed four months after Treg injection. [Pediatr Diabetes] Abstract

Don’t forget to subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News and Immune Regulation News!

Cytokine Patterns in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review
In this review of published clinical studies of patients with cancer, expression and interplay of the following cytokines are examined: interleukin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, interleukin 10, interleukin 12, interleukin 18, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor ß, interferon-γ, HLA-DR, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, and C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract

Mucosal Immunology of Food Allergy
The authors summarize the state of knowledge about the healthy immune response to antigens in the diet and the basis of immune deviation that results in immunoglobulin E sensitization and allergic reactivity to foods. [Curr Biol] Abstract

The Immune Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that leads to changes of nerve conduction due to damage of CNS-resident cells, primarily oligodendrocytes and neurons. CD4+ T cells are of primary importance in the immune cascades leading to tissue damage, but also CD8+ T cells, NK cells and B cells and antibodies contribute to tissue damage. [J Neuroimmune Pharmacol] Abstract

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

Merck Announces FDA Acceptance of Biologics License Application for Investigational Ragweed Pollen Sublingual Allergy Immunotherapy Tablet
Merck announced that the Biologics License Application for its investigational ragweed pollen (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet has been accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

Enzo and NIH File Patent Application for Therapies, Diagnosis, and Prognosis for Autoimmune Diseases
Enzo Biochem Inc., together with its collaborator, the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), filed a patent application in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office directed to immune modulation for the management of autoimmune diseases that may include age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. [Business Wire] Press Release

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Studies Target Immune System, Women’s Cancers
The University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of the Keck School of Medicine, has recently begun recruiting female participants for three new clinical trials studying breast, ovarian and cervical cancer immunotherapies. It is scheduled to open recruitment for a second ovarian cancer study over the summer. [University of Southern California] Press Release

From our sponsor: Free Nature Reviews Immunology poster – Immune Response to HIV. Request a copy.

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Cold Spring Harbor Asia Conferences: Vaccine Design
June 3-7, 2013
Suzhou, China

NEW 6th International Singapore Symposium of Immunology
June 5-6, 2013
Singapore, Singapore

NEW Asia Antibody Congress
June 17-20, 2013
Singapore, Singapore

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the human immunology community.

NEW Assistant Professor – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Autoimmune Renal Disease (Inserm [French Institut of Health and Medical Research])

PhD Position – Immunotherapy (Medical University of Vienna/Christian Doppler-Laboratory for Cardio-Metabolic Immunotherapy)

Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

Scientist – Immunology (Crucell Holland B.V.)

Physician/Scientist – Tumor Immunotherapy (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Immunology (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School)

PhD Studentship (University of Lübeck, ISEF)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Human Immunology News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.