Human Immunology News Volume 1.13 | Jun 11 2013

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Evidence that Autophagy, But Not the Unfolded Protein Response, Regulates the Expression of IL-23 in the Gut of Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Subclinical Gut Inflammation
Scientists examined the mechanisms underlying the increased IL-23 expression in the gut of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Consecutive gut biopsies from 30 HLA-B27⁺ AS patients, 15 Crohn’s disease patients and 10 normal subjects were obtained. Evidence for HLA-B27 misfolding was studied. Unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy were assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The contribution of UPR and autophagy in the regulation of interleukin (IL)-23 expression was evaluated in in vitro experiments on isolated lamina propria mononuclear cells. [Ann Rheum Dis] Abstract

Antigen-Specific Tolerance by Autologous Myelin Peptide-Coupled Cells: A Phase I Trial in Multiple Sclerosis
Researchers assessed the feasibility, safety, and tolerability of a tolerization regimen in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that uses a single infusion of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells chemically coupled with seven myelin peptides. An open-label, single-center, dose-escalation study was performed in seven relapsing-remitting and two secondary progressive MS patients who were off-treatment for standard therapies. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Dual Receptor T Cells Mediate Pathologic Alloreactivity in Patients with Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease
Scientists demonstrated that the small subset of peripheral T cells that naturally express two T cell receptors on the cell surface contributes disproportionately to acute graft-versus-host disease in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

Interleukin 17F Level and Interferon Beta Response in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
The authors investigated the role of interleukin (IL) 17F in predicting treatment response to interferon beta-1b in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis using the Singulex Erenna IL-17F immunoassay. [JAMA Neurol] Abstract | Press Release

CRYAB Modulates the Activation of CD4⁺ T Cells from Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Researchers assessed whether the ability of CRYAB to reduce the activation of T cells translated to the human disease. CD4⁺ T cells from healthy controls and volunteers with multiple sclerosis were activated in vitro in the presence or absence of a CRYAB peptide. Parameters of activation (proliferation rate, cytokine secretion) and tolerance (anergy, activation-induced cell death, microRNAs) were evaluated. [Mult Scler] Abstract

DcR3 Mutations in Patients with Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Lead to Enhanced Lymphocyte Proliferation
Scientists investigated the role of death decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to identify polymorphisms that might alter the function of this protein. DcR3 was measured in the serum of 61 patients with juvenile SLE. [J Rheumatol] Abstract

Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy Enhances Mucosal Healing through Down-Regulation of Interleukin-21 Expression and T Helper Type 17 Cell Infiltration in Crohn’s Disease
Researchers investigated the potential role of anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody in inducing clinical remission and regulating interleukin-21 expression and T helper type 17 cell infiltration in the intestinal mucosa of Crohn’s disease patients. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

Hydrogen Sulfide Inhibits Abnormal Proliferation of Lymphocytes via AKT/GSK3β Signal Pathway in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Recently Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has been recognized as a crucial gaseous signaling molecule, involved in regulation of cell proliferation. However, the role of H₂S in regulating the abnormal activation of lymphocytes from systemic lupus erythematosus patients has not been established. Researchers investigated the effect of H₂S on lymphocytes and explored the mechanisms involved. [Cell Physiol Biochem] Full Article

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The Arrival of JAK Inhibitors: Advancing the Treatment of Immune and Hematologic Disorders
Inhibition of tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity using small molecules has recently become a powerful tool for treatment of several malignancies. Twenty years after the discovery of these enzymes, two inhibitors for this class of kinases have been approved for clinical use and others are currently in the final stage of development. The authors review the principles of cytokines signaling, summarize their current knowledge of the approved inhibitors, and briefly introduce some of the inhibitors that are currently under development. [BioDrugs] Abstract

Modulation by Melatonin of the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases
This review summarizes and highlights the role and the modulatory effects of melatonin in several inflammatory autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory bowel disease. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract

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

NewLink Genetics Presents Positive Phase II Data on Novel Immunotherapy, Tergenpumatucel-L, in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
NewLink Genetics Corporation announced results from a Phase II clinical study with tergenpumatucel-L. The study evaluated the safety and activity of tergenpumatucel-L in 28 previously treated patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer. [Press release from NewLink Genetics Corporation discussing research presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2013 Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release

Immunovaccine Shows Pronounced and Persistent T Cell Immune Responses in DPX-Survivac Cancer Vaccine Study
Immunovaccine Inc. (Immunovaccine) presented positive results from a Phase I clinical study of DPX-Survivac, one of the Company’s two clinical stage cancer vaccines. Immunovaccine highlighted study results that showed ovarian cancer patients treated with DPX-Survivac combined with low dose oral cyclophosphamide experienced pronounced and persistent T cell immune responses against survivin, a protein strongly associated with several tumor types. [Press release from Immunovaccine Inc. discussing research presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2013 Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release

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NeoStem’s Subsidiary, PCT, Enters into a Manufacturing Agreement with ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. for Dendritic Cell Vaccines Targeting Brain and Other Cancers
NeoStem, Inc., its subsidiary, Progenitor Cell Therapy LLC (PCT), and ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. (IMUC) announced the execution of a Services Agreement under which PCT will provide current good manufacturing practices manufacturing services to support research and development of IMUC’s ICT-121 cell therapy product candidate, a dendritic cell vaccine targeting CD133 cells. [ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.] Press Release

Neumedicines Receives an Award of $8.3 Million from BARDA for Continued Development of HemaMax as a Countermeasure to Acute Radiation Exposure
Neumedicines Inc. announced the award of $8.3 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the continued development of HemaMax™ (recombinant human interleukin 12) for hematopoietic syndrome of acute radiation sickness. This award is based on the exercise of Option 1 of the existing contract with BARDA for advanced development of HemaMax™. [Business Wire] Press Release

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 International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) – Cancer Immunotherapy: A Revolution in Progress
June 27, 8:00AM and 6:00PM (CET in US)
Webinar

NEW 15^th International Congress of Immunology (ICI)
August 22-27, 2013
Milan, Italy

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

NEW Research Associate – Cellular Immunology (EMD)

NEW Faculty Positions – Basic and Translational Human Immunology (Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida)

NEW Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology/Autoimmunity (Hospital for Special Surgery)

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

Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

Assistant Professor – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic)

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

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

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