Human Immunology News Volume 1.14 | Jun 18 2013

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Cross-Validation of IFN-γ Elispot Assay for Measuring Alloreactive Memory/Effector T Cell Responses in Renal Transplant Recipients
Assessment of donor-specific alloreactive memory/effector T cell responses using an IFN-γ Elispot assay has been suggested to be a novel immune-monitoring tool for evaluating the cellular immune risk in renal transplantation. Here, investigators report the cross-validation data of the IFN-γ Elispot assay performed within different European laboratories taking part of the EU RISET consortium. [Am J Transplant] Abstract

An Age-Related Numerical and Functional Deficit in CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B Cells Is Associated with an Increase in Systemic Autoimmunity
Scientists found the frequency and numbers of CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi cells were reduced in the PBMC pool with age. IL10 expression and secretion following activation via either CD40, or Toll-like receptors was also impaired in CD19⁺CD24^hiCD38^hi B cells from healthy older donors. [Aging Cell] Abstract | Full Article

Doxycycline Suppresses Chlamydia pneumoniae-Mediated Increases in Ongoing Immunoglobulin E and Interleukin-4 Responses by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Allergic Asthma
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from serum IgE+ allergic asthmatic subjects and healthy controls were infected with C. pneumoniae and cultured for 12 days with or without doxycycline. IgE, interferon-γ and interleukin-4 levels in supernatants were determined on days 1-12 post-infection, and C. pneumoniae DNA copy numbers in PBMC culture were measured on day two. [J Antimicrob Chemother] Abstract

Control of Humoral Immunity and Auto-Immunity by the CXCR4/CXCL12 Axis in Lupus Patients following Influenza Vaccine
The authors investigated whether the levels of CXCR4 expressed on leukocyte subsets in lupus patients are correlated with the efficacy and the safety of the influenza vaccine. Twenty-seven patients were vaccinated and vaccine immunogenicity and tolerance were evaluated. CXCR4 was assayed on leukocyte subsets and correlated with clinical and immunological signs of disease activity. [Vaccine] Abstract

Increased CD14⁺HLA-DR^-/low Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Correlate with Extrathoracic Metastasis and Poor Response to Chemotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Researchers characterized peripheral CD14⁺HLA-DR^-/low, a new human myeloid-derived suppressor cell subpopulation, in 89 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As expected, both frequency and absolute number of CD14⁺HLA-DR^-/low cells were significantly increased in the peripheral blood of NSCLC patients compared with that of the healthy controls and indicated an association with metastasis, response to chemotherapy, and progression-free survival. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract

Defective Expression and Function of the ILT2/CD85j Regulatory Receptor in Dendritic Cells from Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Scientists evaluated the expression and function of ILT2 in dendritic cells (DCs) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE patients). Peripheral blood from fifty patients with SLE and 38 healthy volunteers was obtained. ILT2 expression was assessed by flow cytometry. DCs were generated in the absence or presence of an anti-ILT2 antibody. The effect of ILT2 in the immunogenic ability of SLE DCs was also evaluated. [Hum Immunol] Abstract

Wnt5a Stimulates Chemotactic Migration and Chemokine Production in Human Neutrophils
Wnt5a is a ligand that activates the noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways (ß-catenin-independent pathways). Human neutrophils expressed several Wnt5a receptors, such as Frizzled 2, 5 and 8. Stimulation of human neutrophils with Wnt5a caused chemotactic migration and the production of two important chemokines, CXCL8 and CCL2. [Exp Mol Med] Full Article

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The Role of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Trafficking in the Perpetuation of Inflammation During Inflammatory Bowel Disease
This review highlights the multifactorial role of polymorphonuclear leukocyte egress into the intestinal mucosa in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) because it represents an important area of research with therapeutic implications for the amelioration of the symptoms associated with IBD. [Inflamm Bowel Dis] Abstract

Clinical Consequences of Targeting IL-17 and T_H17 in Autoimmune and Allergic Disorders
Targeting of T_H17 cells or IL-17 therapeutically may impart many benefits, but this approach is not without potentially serious implications regarding host defense. These issues will be discussed herein as the authors evaluate pharmacological approaches targeting this pathway that are just beginning to be fully tested in human disease. [Curr Allergy Asthma Rep] Abstract

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Immunomedics Presents Epratuzumab’s Mechanism of Action in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Immunomedics, Inc. reported that epratuzumab, the Company’s humanized anti-CD22 antibody, mediates the reduction of select proteins on the surface of B cells via a process known as trogocytosis, and that such reduction could modulate B-cell activities. [Press release from Immunomedics, Inc. discussing research presented at the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2013 Congress, Madrid] Press Release

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NEW LT3 – 3rd International Lymphoid Tissue Meeting
September 15-17, 2013
Rotterdam, Netherlands

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

NEW Research Scientist/Senior Research Officer – Monoclonal Antibodies (Bioprocessing Technology Institute/A*STAR)

Research Associate – Cellular Immunology (EMD)

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

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

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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