Human Immunology News Volume 2.28 | Jul 29 2014

CD90⁺ Human Dermal Stromal Cells Are Potent Inducers of FOXP3⁺ Regulatory T Cells
Researchers show that plastic-adherent, human dermal cells induce FoxP3 expression in TCR-complex-stimulated CD25^–CD4⁺CD45RA⁺ T cells in the absence of CD28 co-ligation in a cell-contact dependent manner. These FoxP3⁺ T cells reveal an effective suppressive capacity in vitro. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract

Alveolar T-Helper Type 2 Immunity in Atopic Asthma Is Associated with Poor Clinical Control
Researchers studied the relationship between peripheral airway inflammation and clinical control in allergic asthma. In the bronchi, the leukocyte infiltration pattern and the T helper type 2-score were similar between well-controlled and poorly controlled asthmatics. In contrast, in the alveolar parenchyma the expression of T helper cells was significant higher in poorly controlled asthmatics compared to well-controlled asthmatics [Clin Sci] Abstract

Elevated Receptor for Activated C Kinase 1 Expression Is Involved in Intracellular Ca²⁺ Influx and Potentially Associated with Compromised Regulatory T Cell Function in Patients with Asthma
Scientists determined whether intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in adult regulatory T cells (T_regs) defined their anergy, if intracellular Ca²⁺ movement was linked to regulatory functions, whether [Ca²⁺]_i was indicative of asthma pathology, and the potential molecular mechanism responsible for Ca²⁺ movement in T_regs. [Clin Exp Allergy] Abstract

Survivin as a Potential Mediator to Support Autoreactive Cell Survival in Myasthenia Gravis: A Human and Animal Model Study
Researchers evaluated the role of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, in humans and in two animal models. They identified survivin expression in cells with B lymphocyte and plasma cell markers, and in the thymuses of patients with myasthenia gravis. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

B Cell Receptor Signaling-Based Index as a Biomarker for the Loss of Peripheral Immune Tolerance in Autoreactive B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scientists examined the loss of peripherally induced B cell immune tolerance in Rheumatoid arthritis and established a novel signaling-based measure of activation in a subset of autoreactive B cells – the Induced tolerance status index. [PLoS One] Full Article

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) on IL-2 Production in Human T-Cells
Investigators assessed the effects of PFOS and PFOA on interleukin (IL)-2 production in the human Jurkat T-cell line and PFOS in healthy human primary T cells. [J Appl Toxicol] Abstract

Women with the Alzheimer’s Risk Marker ApoE4 Lose Aβ-Specific CD4⁺ T Cells 10-20 Years before Men
Aβ-CD4see is a new assay developed to quantify Aβ-specific CD4⁺ T cells in human blood, using dendritic cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells. In tests of >50 human subjects Aβ-CD4see showed an age-dependent decline of Aβ-specific CD4⁺ T cells, which occurs earlier in women than men. [Transl Psychiatry] Full Article

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MedImmune and Advaxis Partner on Immuno-Oncology Combination Clinical Trial
AstraZeneca announced that MedImmune has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Advaxis, Inc. The Phase I/II immunotherapy study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of MedImmune’s investigational anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, MEDI4736, in combination with Advaxis’ lead cancer immunotherapy vaccine, ADXS-HPV, as a treatment for patients with advanced, recurrent or refractory human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer and HPV-associated head and neck cancer. [AstraZeneca] Press Release

Aduro BioTech Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation from FDA for Innovative Pancreatic Cancer Combination Immunotherapy
Aduro BioTech, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation for its pancreatic cancer combination treatment that consists of its CRS-207 and GVAX pancreas immunotherapies. [Aduro BioTech, Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release

Inovio Pharmaceuticals HPV Immunotherapy Achieves Primary Efficacy Endpoint in Randomized Phase II Cervical Dysplasia Trial
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced successful results from its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial of VGX-3100 in women with biopsy-proven cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 or 18. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

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