Human Immunology News Volume 3.13 | Apr 7 2015

Cytomegalovirus Infection Enhances the Immune Response to Influenza
Researchers undertook a systems approach to understand the differences between seropositive and negative subjects and measured hundreds of immune system components from blood samples including cytokines and chemokines, immune cell phenotyping, gene expression, ex vivo cell responses to cytokine stimuli, and the antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

CMVpp65 Vaccine Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of Adoptively Transferred CD19-Redirected CMV-Specific T Cells
Scientists enhanced persistence and augmented the antitumor activity of adoptively transferred CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells by re-stimulating CAR⁺ T cells through an endogenous cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cell receptor. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Disease-Associated SNPs from Non-Coding Regions in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Are Located within or Adjacent to Functional Genomic Elements of Human Neutrophils and CD4+ T Cells
In human neutrophils, researchers identified H3K4me1 and/or H3K27ac marks in 15 of the 22 regions previously as identified as risk loci for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In CD4⁺ T cells, 18 regions demonstrated H3K4me1 and/or H3K27ac marks. [Arthritis Rheumatol] Abstract

PLZF Regulates CCR6 and Is Critical for the Acquisition and Maintenance of the Th17 Phenotype in Human Cells
Investigators found that expression levels of CCR6 on human effector/memory CD4⁺ T cells reflect a continuum of Th17 differentiation. By evaluating the transcriptome in cells with increasing CCR6, they detected progressive upregulation of ZBTB16, which encodes the broad complex, tramtrack, bric-à-brac-zinc finger transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF). [J Immunol] Abstract

Leukocyte Mitochondrial DNA Content: A Novel Biomarker Associated with Prognosis and Therapeutic Outcome in Colorectal Cancer
To explore potential mechanism, investigators detected the immunophenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma concentrations of several cytokines in colorectal cancer patients. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Reversal of B-Cell Hyperactivation and Functional Impairment Is Associated with HBsAg Seroconversion in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients
Researchers comprehensively investigated the frequency, phenotype, and function of peripheral B-cell subsets from chronic hepatitis B patients in different phases: immune tolerance, immune activation, immune clearance, responders with HBsAg seroconversion, and healthy controls. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Human Dendritic Cell DC-SIGN and TLR-2 Mediate Complementary Immune Regulatory Activities in Response to Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1
Human monocyte-derived dendritic cells were co-incubated with bacteria and analyzed over time for bacterial adhesion and intracellular processing, costimulatory molecule expression, cytokine secretion and induction of lymphocyte polarization. [PLoS One] Full Article

T-Lymphocyte Phenotype and Function Triggered by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Is Serotype-Dependent
As dendritic cells (DCs) regulate the development of T-lymphocyte lineages, scientists studied the response of T lymphocytes after being stimulated with autologous DCs primed with different bacterial strains belonging to the most prevalent serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans in humans. [J Periodontal Res] Abstract

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Adoptive Cell Transfer as Personalized Immunotherapy for Human Cancer
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a highly personalized cancer therapy that involves administration to the cancer-bearing host of immune cells with direct anticancer activity. The ability to genetically engineer lymphocytes to express conventional T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors has further extended the successful application of ACT for cancer treatment. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

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Stellar Biotechnologies and Neovacs S.A. Expand KLH Supply Relationship
Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. and Neovacs S.A. announced that the companies have entered into an expanded supply agreement to meet Neovacs’ requirements for Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH), a primary component of Neovacs’ proprietary Kinoid immunotherapy technology. [Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc.] Press Release

Juno Therapeutics Announces Patent Litigation Settlement
Juno Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it entered into a settlement agreement to resolve litigation with the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. [Juno Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Celldex Therapeutics Announces Initiation of Phase I/II Study of Varlilumab in Combination with Ipilimumab and CDX-1401 in Metastatic Melanoma
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase I/II safety pilot and expansion study examining the investigational combination of varlilumab and ipilimumab (Yervoy^®; Bristol-Myers Squibb) in patients with Stage III or IV metastatic melanoma. [Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Immune Design Announces Positive Topline Data from Three Phase I Clinical Trials of Immuno-Oncology Agents
Immune Design reported that analyses of data from three ongoing Phase I studies support continued development of its two primary product candidates, CMB305 and G100. CMB305 and G100 represent Immune Design’s two distinct approaches to fighting cancer via the in vivo induction and/or expansion of anti-tumor CD8 T cells. [Immune Design] Press Release

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