Human Immunology News Volume 2.02 | Jan 21 2014

The Immune Phenotype May Relate to Cancer Development in Kidney Transplant Recipients
High regulatory T-cell (Treg) numbers predict recurrent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in kidney transplant recipients, and the Treg immune phenotype may identify kidney transplant recipients at risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and/or solid-organ cancer. To investigate this, a total of 116 kidney transplant recipients, of whom 65 had current or past cancer, were immune-phenotyped and followed up prospectively for a median of 15 months. [Kidney Int] Abstract

Cytokine Effects Induced by the Human Autoallergen α-NAC
Alpha-chain of the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (α-NAC) has been shown before to induce T cell proliferation and secretion of IFN-γ. To elucidate the immune modulating functions α-NAC may exert, the authors analyzed its effects on cytokine transcription and secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocytes and CD4+ T cells. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Biomarker Evaluation of Face Transplant Rejection: Association of Donor T Cells with Target Cell Injury
A series of 113 sequential biopsies of full facial transplants provides findings of potential translational significance as well as biological insights that could prompt reexamination of conventional paradigms of effector pathways in skin allograft rejection. [Modern Pathol] Abstract | Press Release

Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Transiently Increase Cytokine Production by Activated T Cells before Suppressing T-Cell Proliferation: Effect of Interferon-γ and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Stimulation
Investigators compared the dynamic action of unprimed and interferon-γ plus tumor necrosis factor-α-pretreated human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells on resting or activated T cells. [Cytotherapy] Abstract

Targeting IL-6 Signaling in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Followed by Th1 and Th17 Suppression and Th2 Expansion
Scientists investigated the in vitro and ex-vivo effect of IL-6 inhibition on the balance between Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells. The percentages of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from controls and from rheumatoid arthritis patients at the time of first evaluation and just before the third TCZ infusion. [Clin Exp Rheumatol] Abstract

Neural Progenitor Cells from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated Less Autogenous Immune Response
Through co-culture with autogenous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), researchers showed that both somatic cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells do not stimulate significant autogenous PBMC proliferation. However, a significant immune reaction was detected when these cells were co-cultured with allogenous PBMCs. [Sci China Life Sci] Abstract

Different Subsets of Natural Killer T Cells May Vary in Their Roles in Health and Disease
Recent studies of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases have led to a hypothesis that while type I natural killer T (NKT) cells can promote pathogenic and regulatory responses, they are more frequently pathogenic; and that type II NKT cells are predominantly inhibitory and protective from such responses and diseases. [Immunology] Abstract | Full Article

Association of Signaling Transducers and Activators of Transcription 1 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
The authors focus on the association of signaling transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and systemic lupus erythematosus based on recent understandings to render more information about the mechanisms that STAT1 might perform in. [Autoimmunity] Abstract

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MD Anderson Announces Collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation on Cancer Immunotherapy
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will collaborate with Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LLC, and its affiliate Janssen Biotech, Inc., to develop immunology-based cancer treatments through the MD Anderson Moon Shots Program immunotherapy platform. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Position – Allergy and Immunology (University of Southern California)

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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