Human Immunology News Volume 1.18 | Jul 16 2013

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells, Interferon Signaling, and Fcγ Receptor Contribute to Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Response in Childhood Immune Thrombocytopenia
The authors showed that monocytes from patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have a distinct gene expression profile, with increased expression of type I interferon response genes. Plasma from ITP patients had increased levels of several cytokines indicative of immune activation, including an increase in interferon-α. ITP patients also had an increase in plasmacytoid dendritic cells compared to healthy donors. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

Teriflunomide Effect on Immune Response to Influenza Vaccine in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
The authors investigated the effect of teriflunomide on the efficacy and safety of seasonal influenza vaccine. The 2011/2012 seasonal influenza vaccine (containing H1N1, H3N2, and B strains) was administered to patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis treated for ≥6 months with teriflunomide 7 mg or 14 mg, or interferon-β-1. [Neurology] Abstract

Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Transforms CD25⁺ B Cells into Antibody Secreting Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may initiate production of autoantibodies and development of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Researchers outline phenotypic and functional changes in B cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients related to EBV infection. The B cell phenotype was analyzed in blood and bone marrow (BM) of RA patients who had EBV transcripts in BM (EBV⁺) and in EBV^–. The functional effect of EBV was studied in the sorted CD25⁺ and CD25^– peripheral B cells of RA patients and healthy controls. [Immunology] Abstract

Langerhans-Type and Monocyte-Derived Human Dendritic Cells Have Different Susceptibilities to mRNA Electroporation with Distinct Effects on Maturation and Activation: Implications for Immunogenicity in Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy
Scientists recently demonstrated that Wilms’ tumor 1 mRNA-electroporated human Langerhans-type dendritic cells (LCs) are superior to monocyte-derived human dendritic cells (moDCs) as stimulators of tumor antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs, even though they are comparable stimulators of allogeneic T cell proliferative responses. In this study, immature and partially-matured human moDCs and LCs electroporated with mRNA were compared for transfection efficiency, phenotypic changes, viability, retention of transgene expression after cryopreservation, and immunogenicity. [J Transl Med] Full Article

Arginase-1 mRNA Expression Correlates with Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Levels in Peripheral Blood of NSCLC Patients
Investigators aimed to determine the characterization and optimal assessment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and to investigate their presence and function in blood of advanced-stage NSCLC patients. They determined MDSC and lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells samples of 185 treatment-naïve NSCLC patients and 20 healthy controls. [Lung Cancer] Abstract

Reduced Expressions of Fas and Bcl-2 Proteins in CD14+ Monocytes and Bormal CD14 Soluble Levels in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
In order to evaluate Fas and Bcl-2 expressions in CD14+ monocytes, to measure soluble CD14 serum levels and to analyze the relationships with lupus nephritis and disease activity, scientists enrolled 41 patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and 27 healthy volunteers. [Lupus] Abstract

Chemotherapy followed by Modified Donor Lymphocyte Infusion as a Treatment for Relapsed Acute Leukemia after Haploidentical HSCT without In Vitro T-Cell Depletion: Superior Outcomes Compared with Chemotherapy Alone and an Analysis of Prognostic Factors
Researchers retrospectively compared the anti-leukemic effects of chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy followed by modified donor lymphocyte infusion in 82 patients with relapsed acute leukemia after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) without in vitro T-cell depletion. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract

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Celldex Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Seminal Patent for CD27 Agonists
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent No: 8,481,029 entitled “Human immune therapies using a CD27 agonist alone or in combination with other immune modulators” which broadly supports the Company’s product candidate CDX-1127. [Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

NeoStem Advances Autoimmune Platform through UCSF Collaboration
NeoStem, Inc. announced that the Company has executed agreements with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the laboratories of Jeffrey Bluestone, PhD, and Qizhi Tang, PhD, to collaborate on the development of human regulatory T cells for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, steroid resistant asthma, and organ transplant rejection. [NeoStem, Inc.] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Fellowship – Epigenetics of Autoimmune Disorders (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute [IDIBELL])

Assistant Professor – Human Immunology (The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida)

PhD Research Position – Immune Tolerance and Autoimmunity (Weizmann Institute of Science)

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

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

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