Human Immunology News Volume 1.11 | May 28 2013

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IL-22-Producing CD4+ Cells Are Depleted in Actively Inflamed Colitis Tissue
Scientists analyzed cells from the colon of inflammatory bowel disease patients and showed that Crohn’s disease patients had significantly elevated numbers of interleukin (IL)-17+, CD4+ cells compared with healthy controls and ulcerative colitis patients, but these numbers did not vary based on the inflammatory status of the mucosa. [Mucosal Immunol] Full Article

Fasting and Meal-Stimulated Residual Beta Cell Function Is Positively Associated with Serum Concentrations of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Negatively Associated with Anti-Inflammatory and Regulatory Cytokines in Patients with Longer Term Type 1 Diabetes
The authors investigated whether systemic proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines associated differently with fasting and meal-stimulated beta cell function in patients with longer term type 1 diabetes. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Erosive Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Associated with Antibodies that Activate PAD4 by Increasing Calcium Sensitivity
Scientists discovered a subset of anti-peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) autoantibodies that markedly increase the catalytic efficiency of PAD4 by decreasing the enzyme’s requirement for calcium into the physiologic range. Patients with these PAD3/PAD4 cross-reactive autoantibodies had higher baseline radiographic damage scores and a higher likelihood of radiographic progression compared to individuals negative for these antibodies. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Phospholipase D1 Has a Pivotal Role in IL-1β-Driven Chronic Autoimmune Arthritis through Regulation of NFκB, HIF-1α and FoxO3a
Researchers showed for the first time that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) but not PLD2, is selectively upregulated in the IL-1β-stimulated synoviocytes as well as synovium from rheumatoid arthritis patients. [Mol Cell Bio] Abstract

Roles of the Ubiquitin Peptidase USP18 in Multiple Sclerosis and the Response to Interferon-β Treatment
Two polymorphisms, rs2542109 and rs9618216, were genotyped in a cohort of 691 relapse-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 1028 healthy controls and in 225 MS patients treated with interferonβ and classified into responders and non-responders after two years of treatment according to clinical criteria. [Eur J Neurol] Abstract

CD4⁺ T Cells Producing Interleukin (IL)-17, IL-22 and Interferon-γ Are Major Effector T Cells in Nickel Allergy
Researchers aimed to determine the frequencies of CD4⁺ , CD8⁺ and γδ T cells producing IL-17, IL-22 and interferon-γ in the blood and skin from nickel-allergic patients. [Contact Dermatitis] Abstract

Up-Regulation of Slc39A2(Zip2) mRNA in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Scientists investigated whether Zip2 level was changed in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Zip2 mRNA and protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PTB  and healthy controls were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. [Mol Biol Rep] Abstract

Decreased ITGAM and FcγRIIIA mRNA Expression Levels in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
The authors investigated the association of mRNA expression levels of ITGAM and FCγRIIIA with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Real-time transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to determine the expression levels of ITGAM and FCγRIIIA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 60 patients with SLE and 60 healthy controls. [Clin Exp Med] Abstract

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Immunology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This review discusses recent discoveries related to the immunological aspects of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis. The authors outline the diverse immune cell types, inflammatory activators and pathways that are involved. They also discuss the future of inflammation-directed therapeutics to treat AMD in the growing aged population. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This review focuses on the current understanding of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, the role of miRNAs in the regulation of systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis, with special emphasis on new advances and the association of miRNAs with DNA methylation. [Cell Signal] Abstract

Celiac Disease and Autoimmunity: Review and Controversies
The authors provide a brief overview of the pathogenesis of celiac disease (CD) and review the literature regarding associations between CD and other autoimmune diseases, including the potential effects of gluten-free diet therapy on the prevention or amelioration of associated diseases. [Curr Allergy Asthma Rep]
Full Article

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

Sanofi and Regeneron Announce Patient Enrollment in Two Phase III Trials with Sarilumab in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the COMPARE and ASCERTAIN trials of sarilumab, the first fully human monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-6 receptor, which is delivered by subcutaneous injection every other week, have enrolled their first patients. [Sanofi] Press Release

A*STAR and Cytos Bring Singapore’s First Influenza Vaccine to Clinical Testing
Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology AG announced that the first healthy volunteer has been dosed in a Phase I clinical trial with their H1N1 influenza vaccine candidate based on Cytos’ proprietary bacteriophage Qbeta virus-like particle technology. [Agency for Science, Technology and Research] Press Release

Baxter Receives Marketing Authorization for HyQvia in European Union
Baxter International Inc. and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., announced that the European Commission has granted Baxter marketing authorization in all European Union Member States for the use of HyQvia as replacement therapy for adult patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. [Baxter International Inc.] Press Release

$1 Million Funding for Multiple Sclerosis Research
Research into multiple sclerosis prevention and treatment will receive a boost, with the Australian Government to invest a further $1 million to assist Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia to continue its world class research over the next four years. [Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia] Press Release

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NEW Cell Symposia: Immunometabolism – From Mechanisms to Therapy
June 9-11, 2013
Toronto, Canada

NEW Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) 2013 Annual Meeting
June 27-30, 2013
Boston, United States

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

NEW Chair of the Department of Immunology – Tumor Immunology (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

Research Scientist – Small Molecule Modulators of Cross-Talk between Tumors and Infiltrating Cells (Synovo GmbH)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

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

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

Postdoctoral Position – NK Cell Therapeutic Protocols (Goethe University Frankfurt am Main)

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

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

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