Human Immunology News Volume 3.24 | Jun 23 2015

Dynamic Change in Natural Killer Cell Type in the Human Ocular Mucosa In Situ as Means of Immune Evasion by Adenovirus Infection
Researchers investigated the dynamics and mechanisms of changes in natural killer cell types in the human ocular mucosal surface in situ over the course of infection. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Integrated Genomics of Crohn’s Disease Risk Variant Identifies a Role for CLEC12A in Antibacterial Autophagy
Investigators used perturbational profiling of human peripheral blood cells to reveal that CLEC12A is regulated in an ATG16L1-T300A-dependent manner. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

CD56^brightCD16⁻ NK Cells Produce Adenosine through a CD38-Mediated Pathway and Act as Regulatory Cells Inhibiting Autologous CD4⁺ T Cell Proliferation
The authors investigated the role of nucleotide-metabolizing enzymes that regulate the extracellular balance of nucleotides/nucleosides and produce the immunosuppressive molecule adenosine (ADO). CD56^brightCD16⁻ NK cells acted as “regulatory cells” through ADO produced by an ectoenzymes network, with a pivotal role of CD38. [J Immunol] Abstract

Cancer-Testis Antigen SLLP1 Represents a Promising Target for the Immunotherapy of Multiple Myeloma
Researchers evaluated SLLP1 as a potential immunotherapeutic target for multiple myeloma (MM). 896 blood samples and 64 bone marrow samples from myeloma patients and blood from healthy donors were analyzed for anti-SLLP1 antibodies. Seropositive patients were evaluated regarding SLLP1-specific T cells. [J Transl Med] Full Article

Abundance and Specificity of Influenza Reactive Circulating Memory Tfh and Non-Tfh CD4 T Cells in Healthy Adults
After separating circulating human memory CD4 T cells based on expression of CXCR5, a signature marker of follicular helper cells (Tfh), scientists quantified and assayed the influenza protein antigen specificity of blood Tfh cells and CD4 T cells lacking this marker. [Immunology] Abstract

Autoantibody-Targeted Treatments for Acute Exacerbations of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Autoantibody-mediated lung diseases are typically refractory to glucocorticoids and nonspecific medications, but frequently respond to focused autoantibody reduction treatments. Researchers conducted a pilot trial to test the hypothesis that autoantibody-targeted therapies may also benefit acute exacerbations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Differential Effects of Tacrolimus versus Sirolimus on the Proliferation, Activation and Differentiation of Human B Cells
Purified human B cells from healthy volunteers were stimulated through the B cell receptor with Anti-IgM + anti-CD40 + IL21 in the absence/presence of Tacrolimus or Sirolimus. A variety of parameters of B cell activity including activation, differentiation, cytokine productions and proliferation were monitored by flow cytometry. [PLoS One] Full Article

Clinical Significance of CD70 Expression on T Cells in Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type-1 Carriers and Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Patients
Investigators characterized CD70 and CD27 expression on lymphocytes of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carriers and patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). High CD70 expression was observed on CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from patients with acute-type ATL, while patients with smoldering- or chronic-type ATL and HTLV-1 carriers exhibited lower expression. [Leuk Lymphoma] Abstract

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Regulatory Immune Cells in Regulation of Intestinal Inflammatory Response to Microbiota
The authors discuss the recent progress reported in studies of distinct types of regulatory immune cells in the gut, including intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, regulatory B cells, alternatively activated macrophages, dendritic cells, and innate lymphoid cells, and how dysfunction of this immune regulatory system contributes to intestinal diseases such as IBD. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

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Kite Pharma and bluebird bio Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Second Generation TCR Cell Therapy Products to Treat HPV-Associated Cancers
Kite Pharma, Inc. and bluebird bio, Inc. announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to co-develop and co-commercialize second generation T cell receptor (TCR) product candidates directed against the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 oncoprotein incorporating gene editing and lentiviral technologies. [Kite Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

TGen and Mayo Clinic Help Launch National Clinical Trials to Combat Advanced Skin Cancer
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Mayo Clinic are helping launch a national clinical trial that will apply the latest in precision medicine to treat advanced melanoma skin cancer. [Translational Genomics Research Institute] Press Release

Vaxil’s Lead Product ImMucin Has Been Granted an Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Vaxil Bio reported that its lead product, ImMucin, has been granted an “orphan drug” designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for the treatment of multiple myeloma. [Vaxil BioTherapeutics Ltd.] Press Release

ACT Research Suggests Role for Dalazatide in Blocking T Cells from Patients with Lupus
The Alliance for Children’s Therapeutics (ACT) marked its first year anniversary with an encouraging status report on early research efforts using Kineta’s lead drug dalazatide, formerly ShK-186, for children and teens with lupus nephritis. [Kineta Inc. (Business Wire)] Press Release

SITC Announces Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship Award Recipient
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) announced Jonathan Peled, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as the recipient of the SITC-Merck Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Fellowship Award. This award supports the development of the next generation of immunotherapy experts through dedicated funding of novel research. [Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer] Press Release

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Scientist – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientific Marketing Specialist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Antibody Engineering/Immuno-Oncology (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

PhD Position – Molecular Immunology (VIB – Ghent University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Reconstitution in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Tolerance (Stanford University)

Research Scientist – Immunology (Gilead Sciences)

PhD Position – Microbial Immunology (Hans Knöll Institute)

Process Facilitator (Opexa Therapeutics)

Scientist – Immunology Discovery (Genentech, Inc.)

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