Human Immunology News Volume 1.24 | Aug 27 2013

Metabolic Profiling of Human CD4+ Cells following Treatment with Methotrexate and Anti-TNF-α Infliximab
In this study the global metabolic changes associated with methotrexate or infliximab treatment of isolated human CD4+ T cells were examined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

RhoA/ROCK-Dependent Pathway Is Required for TLR2-Mediated IL-23 Production in Human Synovial Macrophages: Suppression by Cilostazol
Scientists investigated whether the RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway is required to elevate toll like receptor 2 (TLR2)-mediated interleukin (IL)-23 production in synovial macrophages from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and then examined the suppressive effect of cilostazol on these pathways. [Biochem Pharmacol] Full Article

Clinical Associations of Serum Interleukin-17 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Researchers characterized clinical associations of serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They quantified IL-17 in serum samples from 98 SLE patients studied cross-sectionally, and in 246 samples from 75 of these patients followed longitudinally over two years. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

Rapamycin Has Suppressive and Stimulatory Effects on Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Functions
Scientists studied the effects of mTOR-inhibition by rapamycin, a commonly used immunosuppressive and anti-cancer drug, on innate and adaptive immune functions of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

Imbalance of Different Types of CD4⁺Foxp3⁺ T Cells in Patients with New Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Investigators examined the numbers of CD4⁺CD25^–Foxp3⁺, CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺, and CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in patients with new onset systemic lupus erythematosus. The numbers of CD4⁺CD25^–Foxp3⁺, CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺, and CD4⁺CXCR5⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells and the concentrations of serum IL-10 in 23 patients and 20 healthy controls were measured. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

Expression of Co-Stimulatory Molecule B7-H4 in Patients Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis
Data showed that the immunolocalization of B7-H4 could be found on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of synoviocytes and CD19⁺ B cells in rheumatoid synovium tissues, while B7-H4 was weakly or negatively expressed on CD3⁺ T cells, CD14⁺ monocytes and CD68⁺ macrophages. [Immunol Lett] Abstract

Altered Th17 Cells and Th17/Regulatory T-Cell Ratios Indicate the Subsequent Conversion from Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease to Definitive Systemic Autoimmune Disorders
Scientists assessed the distribution of peripheral Th17 and regulatory T-cells in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease, the forerunner of systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs) and followed these parameters during the development towards definitive SAIDs. [Hum Immunol] Abstract

HBcAg-Specific IL-21 Producing-CD4+T Cells Are Associated with Relative Viral Control in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
Researchers investigated the role of interleukin-21-producing CD4+T cell response in viral control of hepatitis B virus infection. HBcAg -specific interleukin-21-producing CD4+T cells in blood were detected in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. [Scand J Immunol] Abstract

The Role of Macrophages and Dendritic Cells in the Initiation of Inflammation in IBD
Gastrointestinal macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) participate in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) development through inappropriate responses to enteric microbial stimuli, inefficient clearance of microbes from host tissues, and impaired transition from appropriate proinflammatory responses to anti-inflammatory responses that promote resolution. By understanding how intestinal macrophages and DCs initiate chronic inflammation, new pathogenesis-based therapeutic strategies to treat human inflammatory bowel diseases will be elucidated. [Inflamm Bowel Dis] Abstract

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

Miller School Offers Brain Cancer Vaccine to Recurrent Cases
A revolutionary brain cancer vaccine clinical trial once limited to patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme is now offered to University of Miami Health System patients with a recurrent brain tumor. As in the original study, the patient’s own tumor cells are used to develop the vaccine that is designed to target the immune system, offering hope to those with the most common and aggressive form of brain tumor. [Miller School of Medicine] Press Release

Argos Therapeutics Secures $42.5 Million Financing, Funds Pivotal Phase III ADAPT Trial for Personalized Immunotherapy
Argos Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of fully personalized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases using its Arcelis™ technology platform, announced that it has secured $42.5 million in a Series E financing. The funds will be used for the company´s ongoing, fully resourced ADAPT pivotal Phase III clinical study of AGS-003 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. [Argos Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

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

Postdoctoral Position – Elucidation of the Role of Specific Ubiquitin-Binding Proteins in Regulating NFKB Signaling in Innate Immune Cells (AstraZeneca)

Postdoctoral Position – Innate Immune Signaling in the Developing Intestine (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Asthma Research (Columbia University – Allergy Immunology Medicine)

Tenure-Track Position – Cell Biologist (McGill University)

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)

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

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

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