Nivolumab and Ipilimumab versus Ipilimumab in Untreated Melanoma In this double-blind study involving 142 patients with metastatic melanoma who had not previously received treatment, doctors randomly assigned patients in a 2:1 ratio to receive ipilimumab combined with either nivolumab or placebo once every three weeks for four doses, followed by nivolumab or placebo every two weeks until the occurrence of disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects. [New Engl J Med] Full Article | Press Release COPA Mutations Impair ER-Golgi Transport and Cause Hereditary Autoimmune-Mediated Lung Disease and Arthritis Expression of mutant COPA resulted in ER stress and the upregulation of cytokines priming for a T helper type 17 (TH17) response. Patient-derived CD4+ T cells also demonstrated significant skewing toward a TH17 phenotype that is implicated in autoimmunity. [Nat Genet] Abstract | Press Release Homeostatic Regulation of T Cell Trafficking by a B Cell-Derived Peptide Is Impaired in Autoimmune and Chronic Inflammatory Disease Investigators showed that during inflammation and in response to adiponectin, B cells tonically inhibit T cell trafficking by secreting a peptide (PEPITEM) proteolytically derived from 14.3.3 zeta delta protein. PEPITEM binds cadherin-15 on endothelial cells, promoting synthesis and release of sphingosine-1 phosphate, which inhibits trafficking of T cells without affecting recruitment of other leukocytes. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release Induced Transcription and Stability of CELF2 mRNA Drives Widespread Alternative Splicing during T-Cell Signaling Researchers demonstrated that expression of the splicing factor CELF2 (CUGBP, Elav-like family member 2) is regulated in response to T-cell signaling through combined increases in transcription and mRNA stability. They uncovered dozens of splicing events in cultured T cells whose changes upon stimulation are dependent on CELF2 expression, and provide evidence that CELF2 controls a similar proportion of splicing events during human thymic T-cell development. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release Targeting of Folate Receptor-Beta on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Blasts with Chimeric Antigen Receptor Expressing T Cells The authors describe the development and evaluation of m909, the first chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) specific for human folate receptor beta (FRβ) in vitro and in vivo. m909 CAR T cells exhibited selective activation and lytic function against engineered C30-FRβ as well as endogenous FRβ+ acute myeloid leukemia cell lines in vitro. [Blood] Abstract In Situ Delivery of Antigen to DC-SIGN+CD14+ Dermal Dendritic Cells Results in Enhanced CD8+ T Cell Responses The authors showed using a human skin explant model that the in situ targeting of antigens to DC-SIGN using glycan-modified liposomes enhanced the antigen presenting capacity of CD14+ dermal DCs. [J Invest Dermatol] Abstract VIP Boosts Regulatory T Cell Induction by Trophoblast Cells in an In Vitro Model of Trophoblast-Maternal Leukocyte Interaction Investigators evaluated whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) produced by trophoblast cells induced regulatory T cells during the early interaction of maternal leukocytes with trophoblast cells, thus contributing to maternal tolerance. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract Delineation of a Novel Dendritic-Like Subset in Human Spleen Human L-dendritic cells (DCs) were identified as a hCD11c+hCD11b+HLA-DR−hCD86+ subset in the spleen, along with the previously described subsets of hCD1c+ DCs, hCD123+ plasmacytoid DCs, hCD16+ DCs and hCD141+ DCs. Three subsets of monocytes were also characterized. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract Microparticles Mediate Human Papillomavirus Type 6 or 11 Infection of Human Macrophages Although macrophages are very important in antiviral immune responses, various types of viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human cytomegalovirus, and poliovirus are capable of infecting macrophages. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract miR-20a Inhibits TCR-Mediated Signaling and Cytokine Production in Human Naïve CD4+ T Cells Researchers found that miR-20a is rapidly induced upon TCR-triggering in primary human naïve CD4+ T cells and that its transcription is regulated in a Erk-, NF-κB-, and Ca++-dependent manner. [PLoS One] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News & Immune Regulation News! |