Human Immunology News Volume 1.38 | Dec 3 2013

Vitamin D Controls Murine and Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Function
The authors demonstrated that plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) express various proteins of the Vitamin D (VitD) receptor pathway, including the VitD metabolizing enzymes Cyp27B1 and Cyp24A1, and that VitD receptor is transcriptionally active in pDCs. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Amyloid Arthropathy Associated with Multiple Myeloma: Polyarthritis without Synovial Infiltration of CD20+ or CD38+ Cells
Synovial biopsies from affected joints of two patients with multiple myeloma and amyloid arthropathy were examined with light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemically for expression of CD3, CD8, CD20, CD38, CD68, Ki-67 and vWF. Results were compared to values from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and normal synovial membranes. [Amyloid] Abstract

Evidence that TNF-Beta (Lymphotoxin Alpha) Can Activate the Inflammatory Environment in Human Chondrocytes
While the role of TNF-alpha in rheumatoid arthritis is quite evident, the role of TNF-beta is unclear. Researchers investigated whether TNF-beta and its receptor play a role in chondrocytes in the inflammatory environment. [Arthritis Res Ther] Abstract | Full Article

OK-432 Synergizes with IFN-γ to Confer Dendritic Cells with Enhanced Antitumor Immunity
Researchers investigated the impact of a newly developed maturation cocktail consisting of OK-432 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on the function of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). They found that OK-432 plus IFN-γ stimulation could induce significantly stronger expression of surface molecules, production of cytokines, as well as migration of DCs compared with OK-432 stimulation alone. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Inhibition of Increased Circulating Tfh Cell by Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Scientists investigated the role of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the effect of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) on Tfh cells from T1D patients. [PLoS One] Full Article

CXCR5⁺CD4⁺ Follicular Helper T Cells Accumulate in Resting Human Lymph Nodes and Have Superior B Cell Helper Activity
Analyses have been performed on immune cells derived from tonsils, but as this tissue is most often inflamed, generalization of these data is difficult. The authors analyzed the phenotype and function of the human CD4⁺ T-cell subsets and lineages in paired resting lymph node and peripheral blood samples. [Int Immunol] Abstract

Lower Serum Levels of Th2-Related Chemokine CCL22 in Women Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparison between Patients and Healthy Women
Researchers investigated the serum levels of the macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) in women and men patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The difference of the mean serum levels of CCL22 between the newly diagnosed MS men and healthy men was not significant, but in newly diagnosed MS women, the mean serum levels of CCL22 were significantly lower than those in treated MS women and healthy women. [Inflammation] Abstract

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Soligenix Announces Initiation of a Phase II Clinical Trial of orBec® for the Treatment of Chronic GI GVHD Clinical Trial Supported by $300,000 National Cancer Institute Grant
Soligenix, Inc. announced that it has initiated a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating orBec® (oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate) as a treatment for the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations of chronic Graft-versus-Host disease (GVHD). [Soligenix, Inc.] Press Release

TxCell Obtains Manufacturing Accreditation Status for Its French Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility
TxCell SA, a biotechnology company developing innovative, personalized cell-based immunotherapies using antigen-specific regulatory T-cells for chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, announced that it received a Manufacturing Accreditation delivered by the French National Agency for Drug Safety. [TxCell SA] Press Release

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NEW Clinical MD – Clinical Development Program for Oncology and Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomedics, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Immunology (Sanofi R&D)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Wound Healing/Fibrosis Research (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Immunology Research (The Babraham Institute)

Faculty Positions – Cancer Biology and Immunology (Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Immunology (National University of Singapore)

PhD Studentship – Systems Biology and Lymphocyte Activation (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Research Position – Immunology (Singapore Immunology Network [SIgN])

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

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

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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