Human Immunology News Volume 3.42 | Oct 27 2015

The Transcriptional Landscape of Age in Human Peripheral Blood
Scientists performed a whole-blood gene expression meta-analysis in 14,983 individuals of European ancestry and identified 1,497 genes that are differentially expressed with chronological age. [Nat Commun]
Full Article | Press Release

Sirolimus Is Effective in Relapsed/Refractory Autoimmune Cytopenias: Results of a Prospective Multi-Institutional Trial
Investigators present data on 30 patients treated on a multicenter prospective clinical trial using sirolimus as monotherapy. Double negative T cells were no longer detectable in most, yet other lymphocyte populations were spared, suggesting a targeted effect of sirolimus. [Blood] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Activated T Cells Enhance Interferon-α Production by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Stimulated with RNA-Containing Immune Complexes
Scientists investigated whether T cells could promote interferon-α production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Human pDCs were stimulated with immune complexes containing U1 small nuclear ribonucleic proteins particles and systemic lupus erythematosus-IgG in the presence of T cells or T cell supernatants. [Ann Rheum Dis] Abstract

Isolation of Human Monoclonal Autoantibodies Derived from Pancreatic Lymph Node and Peripheral Blood B Cells of Islet Autoantibody-Positive Patients
Researchers investigated whether pancreatic lymph nodes could provide a source of antigen-specific B cells for analysis of immune responses within the (pre)diabetic pancreas. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Secreted Factors from Colorectal and Prostate Cancer Cells Skew the Immune Response in Opposite Directions
The distribution and prognostic value of proinflammatory M1 macrophages and immunosuppressive M2 macrophages was evaluated in a cohort of 234 prostate cancer (PC) patients. Investigators found that macrophages infiltrating PC were mainly of an M2 type and correlated with a more aggressive tumor and poor patient prognosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Inhibit T Cell Proliferation in Human Extranodal NK/T Cell Lymphoma: A Novel Prognostic Indicator
The authors investigated the functional features and clinical significance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKL). MDSCs from ENKL patients inhibited the secretion of IFNγ but promoted IL-10, IL-17 and TGFβ secretion as well as Foxp3 expression in T cells. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Full Article

TIM-3 Suppresses Anti-CD3/CD28-Induced TCR Activation and IL-2 Expression through the NFAT Signaling Pathway
Investigators generated several Jurkat T cell lines stably expressing human TIM-3 (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing protein 3) or murine CD28-ECD/human TIM-3 intracellular tail chimeras and examined the effects that TIM-3 exerts on T cell receptor-mediated activation, cytokine secretion, promoter activity, and protein kinase association. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Novartis Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for the First IL-17A Inhibitor Cosentyx™ to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Novartis announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of Cosentyx™ (secukinumab) in Europe to treat ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis patients. [Novartis AG] Press Release

T-VEC Becomes First Viral Immunotherapy Recommended for Approval in Europe
A viral immunotherapy for cancer has become the first to be given the green light by European regulators. The treatment, called Talimogene laherparepvec, or T-VEC for short, has been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency for use in adults with advanced melanoma. [The Institute of Cancer Research] Press Release

Moderna Launches Caperna LLC, Its Fourth Venture, to Develop Personalized Cancer Vaccines
Moderna Therapeutics announced the launch of Caperna LLC, the fourth Moderna venture, which will focus exclusively on the advancement of personalized cancer vaccines. [Moderna Therapeutics] Press Release

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