Human Immunology News Volume 2.07 | Feb 25 2014

Circulating Giant Macrophages as a Potential Biomarker of Solid Tumors
Using precision microfilters under low-flow conditions, investigators isolated circulating cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs) from the peripheral blood of patients with breast, pancreatic, or prostate cancer. CAMLs, which are not found in healthy individuals, were found to express epithelial, monocytic, and endothelial protein markers and were observed bound to circulating tumor cells in circulation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Decreased Expression of miR-146a and miR-155 Contributes to an Abnormal Treg Phenotype in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scientists investigated microRNA (miR)-146a and miR-155 expression in regulatory T cells (Tregs) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their possible impact on Treg function and disease activity. [Ann Rheum Dis] Abstract

IL-27 in Human Secondary Lymphoid Organs Attracts Myeloid Dendritic Cells and Impairs HLA Class I-Restricted Antigen Presentation
Findings highlight novel mechanisms underlying the immunosuppressive activity of IL-27, suggesting that this cytokine may function as a homeostatic cytokine in secondary lymphoid organs by limiting duration and/or intensity of ongoing adaptive immune responses. [J Immunol] Abstract

Expression of B7-H3, a Potential Factor of Tumor Immune Evasion in Combination with the Number of Regulatory T Cells, Affects against Recurrence-Free Survival in Breast Cancer Patients
Investigators demonstrated that expression of B7-H3 on tumor cells and the number of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment independently affected prognosis in breast cancer patients. [Ann Surg Oncol]
Full Article

Angiopoietin-1 Upregulates De Novo Expression of Interleukin (Il)-1β and Il1-Ra, and the Exclusive Release of Il1-Ra from Human Neutrophils
Scientists hypothesized that angiopoietin (Ang)1 and Ang2 could modulate inflammatory signals in neutrophils, a possibility they explored through a gene-based assay looking at changes in the mRNA expression of 84 inflammatory cytokines and their receptors. [PLoS One] Full Article

Donor-Derived CD4⁺/CCR7⁺ T-Cell Partial Selective Depletion Does Not Alter Acquired Anti-Infective Immunity
The authors investigated in vitro the impact of partially selective CD4⁺/chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7)⁺ T lymphocytes on acquired anti-infective immune response in ten donors who underwent G-CSF-primed PBSC collection. [Bone Marrow Transpl] Abstract

Manipulating Immune Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy of Cancer
The authors present a brief overview of T cell adoptive cell transfer followed by a review of approaches using alternate lymphocyte subsets and other leukocytes including neutrophils, macrophages and eosinophils. [Curr Opin Immunol] Abstract

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Biothera Presents Phase II Data to International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Biothera presented results of its Phase IIb clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer to top clinicians and scientists at the invitation-only International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer meeting on targeted therapies. Biothera’s Imprime PGG® is a Phase III cancer immunotherapy drug that engages and directs immune cells to recognize and kill cancer. [Biothera, the immune health company] Press Release

Novartis Expands Cancer Immunotherapy Research Program with Acquisition of CoStim
Novartis announced that it is broadening its cancer immunotherapy research program with the acquisition of CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on harnessing the immune system to eliminate immune-blocking signals from cancer. [Novartis AG] Press Release

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Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

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Assistant/Associate Professors – Allergic Inflammation and Sensory Neurobiology (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)

Research Assistant – Adaptive Immune Proliferation (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research)

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

PhD Student Position – Molecular Immunology (Institute for Research in Biomedicine)

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

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

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

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

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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