Human Immunology News Volume 2.01 | Jan 14 2014

TL1A Induces TCR Independent IL-6 and TNF-α Production and Growth of PLZF⁺ Leukocytes
Researchers investigated the role of TL1A in a pro-inflammatory setting, using human leukocytes purified from healthy donors. They showed that TL1A, together with IL-12, IL-15 and IL-18, directly induces the production of IL-6 and TNF-α from leukocytes. [PLoS One] Abstract | Press Release

Comprehensive Analysis of miRNA Expression in T-Cell Subsets of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Reveals Defined Signatures of Naive and Memory Regulatory T Cells
Investigators found a positive correlation between increased expression of microRNA (miR)-451 in T cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients and disease activity score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels and serum levels of interleukin-6. [Genes Immun] Full Article

Increased Th17/Regulatory T Cell Ratio in Chronic Liver GvHD
Scientists evaluated Th17 cells in biopsies from a cohort of 17 patients with liver chronic GVHD (cGvHD). They observed a significant increase in Th17 cells in the liver of patients with cGvHD, as demonstrated by an increase in CCR6+, CD161+ and RORγt+ T cells. [Bone Marrow Transpl] Abstract

Impact of In Vivo T-Cell Depletion on Outcome of AML Patients in First CR Given Peripheral Blood Stem Cells and Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allo-SCT from a HLA-Identical Sibling Donor: A Report from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
This study assessed the outcome of 1250 adult patients with de novo AML in first CR given PBSC from HLA-identical siblings after chemotherapy-based reduced-intensity conditioning. A total of 554 patients did not receive any form of in vivo T-cell depletion, whereas antithymocyte globulin and alemtuzumab were given in 444 and 252 patients, respectively. [Bone Marrow Transpl] Abstract

Ex-Vivo Whole Blood Secretion of Interferon (IFN)-γ and IFN-γ-Inducible Protein-10 Measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Are as Sensitive as IFN-γ Enzyme-Linked Immunospot for the Detection of Gluten-Reactive T Cells in Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA)-DQ2·5⁺-Associated Celiac Disease
The authors aimed to develop whole blood assays to detect gluten-specific T cells. Blood was collected before and after gluten challenge from gluten-free diet (GFD) donors confirmed to have Celiac disease (CD), GFD donors confirmed not to have CD and donors with CD not following GFD. [Clin Exp Immunol]
Abstract | Press Release

Invariant Natural Killer T-Cell Neutralization Is a Possible Novel Therapy for Human Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Scientists tested the hypothesis that invariant natural killer T cells are induced in the human eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and is a novel possible target for the treatment of human EoE. [Clin Transl Immunol]
Full Article

Regulation of the Anti-Tumor Immune Response by Cancer Associated Fibroblasts
The authors review recent findings on how cancer associated fibroblasts can influence the immune status of tumors through direct and indirect interaction with immune cells and other key components of the tumor microenvironment. [Semin Cancer Biol] Abstract

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AC Immune Raises CHF 20 Million and Initiates World’s First Anti-pTau Vaccine Trial for Alzheimer’s Disease
AC Immune SA announced it has successfully completed its round D financing by raising CHF 20 million from current private investors. The company also announced it has started the world’s first trial of a vaccine against the phospho-Tau target for Alzheimer’s disease. [AC Immune SA] Press Release

Merck Initiates Rolling Submission of U.S. Biologics License Application for MK-3475, an Investigational Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy, in Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Merck said it has started a rolling submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a Biologics License Application for MK-3475, the company’s investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, for patients with advanced melanoma who have been previously treated with ipilimumab. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

MedImmune and Immunocore Enter Immunotherapy Agreement to Develop Novel Cancer Therapies
AstraZeneca announced that MedImmune has entered into an oncology research collaboration and licensing agreement with Immunocore Limited. Both companies will research and develop novel cancer therapies using Immunocore’s Immune Mobilising Monoclonal T-Cell Receptor Against Cancer (ImmTAC) technology. [AstraZeneca] Press Release

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NEW PhD Positions & MD Positions – Translational Rheumatology (Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum Berlin)

NEW Senior Scientist – Immuno-Oncology; In Vivo Pharmacology (Genentech, Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Clinical Medicine (Trinity College Dublin)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – T Cell Therapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Associate Professor – B Cell Immunologist (Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine)

Senior Scientist – Molecular Biology (immatics biotechnologies GmbH)

Bioinformatics Positions – Transcriptional Signatures of Vaccine Immunity in Humans (Emory Vaccine Center)

Chief Medical Officer – Novel Therapeutics in Oncology & Autoimmune Disease (Immunomedics, Inc.)

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

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

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

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

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

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