Human Immunology News Volume 2.11 | Mar 25 2014

Recognition and Killing of Autologous, Primary Glioblastoma Tumor Cells by Human Cytomegalovirus pp65-Specific Cytotoxic T Cells
Researchers explored whether T cells stimulated by cytomegalovirus pp65 RNA-transfected dendritic cells target and eliminate autologous glioblastoma multiforme tumor cells in an antigen-specific manner. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Invariant Natural Killer T Cells Developing in the Human Fetus Accumulate and Mature in the Small Intestine
Scientists showed that functional human fetal invariant natural killer T cells develop and differentiate in a tissue-specific manner during the second trimester. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Manipulating the Expression of Chemokine Receptors Enhances Delivery and Activity of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells
Human cytokine-induced killer cell expansions were examined for the level, profile and kinetics of chemokine receptor expression. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Human Monocytes Respond to Extracellular cAMP through A2A and A2B Adenosine Receptors
Researchers tested the hypothesis that cAMP, acting as an extracellular mediator, affects the physiology and function of human myeloid cells. They found that human monocytes exposed to extracellular cAMP exhibit higher expression of CD14 and lower amount of MHC class I and class II molecules. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

Expansion and Preferential Activation of the CD14⁺CD16⁺ Monocyte Subset during Multiple Sclerosis
Little is known about how the two main monocyte subsets, CD14⁺⁺CD16^– and CD14⁺CD16⁺, are involved in multiple sclerosis (MS). To understand how the phenotype and responses of these monocyte subsets are altered during MS, total monocytes and the purified monocyte subsets from healthy subjects and MS patients were characterized ex vivo and stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Inverse Associations between Obesity Indicators and Thymic T-Cell Production Levels in Aging Atomic-Bomb Survivors
To test the hypothesis that obesity may contribute to the aging of human T-cell immunity, a thousand atomic-bomb survivors were examined for obesity status and ability to produce naive T cells, i.e., T-cell receptor excision circle numbers in CD4 and CD8 T cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Peripheral Blood TIM-3 Positive NK and CD8+ T Cells throughout Pregnancy: TIM-3/Galectin-9 Interaction and Its Possible Role during Pregnancy
Researchers investigated the number, phenotype and functional activity of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM)-3+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells during healthy human pregnancy. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Investigational MAGE-A3 Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic Does Not Meet First Co-Primary Endpoints in MAGRIT, A Phase III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Clinical Trial
GlaxoSmithKline plc announced that analysis of the MAGRIT trial, a Phase III trial of its MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in non-small cell lung cancer patients, showed that the trial did not meet its first or second co-primary endpoint as it did not significantly extend disease-free survival when compared to placebo in either the overall MAGE-A3 positive population (first co-primary endpoint) or in those MAGE-A3-positive patients who did not receive chemotherapy (second co-primary endpoint). [GlaxoSmithKline plc] Press Release

Imugene Allowed Israel Patent for Cancer Vaccine
Australian biopharmaceutical company Imugene Limited has received notice that the Israeli Patent Office has issued an Intention to Grant for the company’s proprietary cancer vaccine HER-Vaxx. [Imugene Limited]
Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

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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Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Construction of Vaccine Molecules for Treatment of Allergic Diseases (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Examining the Impact of the Neonatal Immune System on Perinatal Brain Injury (University of Gothenburg)

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

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

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

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

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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