Human Immunology News Volume 1.20 | Jul 30 2013

Premature Cell Senescence and T Cell Receptor-Independent Activation of CD8+ T Cells in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
CD8+ T cells lacking CD28 were originally reported to be a characteristic feature of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but the relevance of these unusual cells to this disease remains to be elucidated. Because of recent evidence that loss of CD28 cells is typical of terminally differentiated lymphocytes, the authors aimed to examine functional subsets of CD8+ T cells in patients with JIA. [Arthritis Rheum] Abstract | Press Release

T Cells in the Human Metastatic Melanoma Microenvironment Express Site-Specific Homing Receptors and Retention Integrins
Scientists hypothesized that T cells in the melanoma microenvironment would be enriched for chemokine receptors CCR4, CCR5, CXCR3, and homing receptors relevant to the tissue site. Viably cryopreserved single cell suspensions from 19 melanoma metastases representing three metastatic sites (tumor-infiltrated lymph node, skin, and small bowel) were evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry and compared to benign lymph nodes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Stage IIB-IV melanoma. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Lack of Recall Response to Tax in ATL and HAM/TSP Patients but Not in Asymptomatic Carriers of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1
A patient cohort (from human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 [HTLV-1] endemic region) consisting of seronegative controls, asymptomatic carriers, and patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) or HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) was analyzed for CD8⁺ T cells polyfunctionality in response to the viral antigen Tax. [J Clin Immunol] Abstract

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Complicating Autoimmune Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis that Was Worsened by Immunosuppressive Therapy
A 26-year-old Japanese woman developed autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) during glucocorticoid therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Intensive immunosuppressive therapy worsened the PAP. De-escalation of immunosuppressive therapy improved the PAP. [Lupus] Abstract

Glucocorticoid Downregulates Expression of IL-12 Family Cytokines in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Researchers investigated expression of interleukin 12 (IL-12) family cytokines IL-12, IL-23, IL-27 and IL-35 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and the effect of glucocorticoid treatment on their expression. [Lupus] Abstract

High Capacity for Leukotriene Biosynthesis in Peripheral Blood during Pregnancy
The authors showed that pregnancy affects leukotriene synthesis in human blood and leukocytes. 5-Lipoxygenase product formation in stimulated blood of pregnant women was significantly higher than in non-pregnant females. [Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids] Abstract

The Role of Natural Killer Cells in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Review
The authors provide an extensive characterization of the phenotype of hepatic natural killer (H-NK) cells physiologically resident in the human liver by both mentioning data available in literature and including a set of original results recently developed in their laboratory. [J Autoimmun] Abstract

Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 and Autoimmune Lupus
The authors review the updated evidence indicating the roles of interferon regulatory factor 5 in autoimmune lupus. Hopefully, the information obtained will lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis and development of novel therapeutic strategies for the systemic autoimmune disease. [Expert Rev Mol Med] Abstract

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

NICE Consults on Belimumab for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has opened a second public consultation on the use of belimumab (Benlysta) for treating systemic lupus erythematosus. In the new draft guidance, belimumab is not recommended, within its licensed indication, as an add-on therapy in adults with active, autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus with a high degree of disease activity despite standard therapy. [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Immunology (Baylor Institute for Immunology Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Role of the IL-23/IL-17 Axis in Inflammatory Arthritis (UC Davis Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Allergy Immunology Medicine (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral and Senior Research Scientist Positions – Immunology ERC Advanced Grant Project (Technische Universitat Munchen)

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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