Human Immunology News Volume 2.03 | Jan 28 2014

Alarmin IL-33 Acts as an Immunoadjuvant to Enhance Antigen-Specific Tumor Immunity
Two biologically active isoforms of IL-33 exist that are full-length or mature, but the ability of either isoform to function as a vaccine adjuvant that influences CD4 Th1 or CD8 T cell immune responses is not defined. Researchers showed that both IL-33 isoforms are capable of enhancing potent antigen-specific effector and memory T cell immunity in vivo in a DNA vaccine setting. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Naive CD4 T-Cell Activation Identifies MS Patients Having Rapid Transition to Progressive MS
The authors aimed to determine whether altered naive CD4 T-cell biology contributes to development of disease progression in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). [Neurology] Abstract | Full Article

Alternative Activation of Human Plasmacytoid DCs In Vitro and in Melanoma Lesions: Involvement of LAG-3
To identify molecules that are potentially involved in alternative plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) activation, investigators explored the expression and function of LAG-3 in human pDCs. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Inverse Immunological Responses Induced by Allergic Rhinitis and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Data demonstrated that allergic rhinitis and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma induce two distinct immunological processes, indicating an inverse association between the immunological responses seen in patients with allergy and cancer of the upper airway. [PLoS One] Full Article

Detection of Circulating B Cells Producing Anti-GPIb Autoantibodies in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia
Investigators assessed the clinical significance of measuring circulating B cells producing antibodies to GPIb, another major platelet autoantigen. [PLoS One] Full Article

Gene Expression Pattern of Treg and TCR Vγ Subfamily T Cells Before and After Specific Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis
To further characterize whether γδ T cells could influence T regulatory cell (Treg) in allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT), scientists investigated the expression pattern of Treg’s Foxp3 gene and γδ T cell receptor (TCR) Vγ subfamily genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of AR patients before and after SIT. [J Transl Med] Full Article

Immune Modulation in Humans: Implications for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
The authors discuss the current knowledge on immune regulation and dysfunction in humans that is the basis of tissue-specific immune regulation as an alternative to generalized immune suppression. [Nat Rev Endocrinol] Abstract

Immunotherapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Current Status and Future Prospects
The authors review immunotherapeutic approaches currently being evaluated in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients, and how immunotherapy might be rationally combined with conventional tumor cytoreductive therapies for this disease. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

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Immune Design Announces Treatment of First Patient in Phase I Clinical Trial of ID-G100, an Investigational Immuno-Oncology Agent
Immune Design announced treatment of the first patient in a Phase I clinical trial of ID-G100 in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). The Phase I open label trial is designed to evaluate the safety, feasibility, clinical efficacy and immunogenicity of ID-G100 in patients with metastatic or logoregional MCC. [Immune Design]
Press Release

BRI Receives 7-Year Award to Lead Immune Tolerance Network
The National Institutes of Health has awarded Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) a 7-year grant to lead the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN). The award, totaling $27 million annually, supports efforts to develop, coordinate and implement international clinical trials conducted by the ITN to evaluate novel therapies for transplantation, allergy and autoimmune diseases. [Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason]
Press Release

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Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

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Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Interleukin-12 Family Members (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

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

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

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)

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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