Human Immunology News Volume 4.26 | Jul 5 2016

TOP STORY

New Therapy Treats Autoimmune Disease without Harming Normal Immunity

In a study with potentially major implications for the future treatment of autoimmunity and related conditions, scientists have found a way to remove the subset of antibody-making cells that cause an autoimmune disease without harming the rest of the immune system. [Press release from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Activin A Programs the Differentiation of Human T_FH Cells

A screen of a human protein library identified activin A as a potent regulator of follicular helper T cells (T_FH) cell differentiation. Activin A orchestrated the expression of multiple genes associated with the T_FH program, independently or in concert with additional signals. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Global Intron Retention Mediated Gene Regulation during CD4⁺ T Cell Activation

Using strand-specific RNA-seq, the authors observed that intron retention is prevalent in polyadenylated transcripts in resting CD4⁺ T cells and is significantly reduced upon T cell activation. [Nucleic Acids Res] Full Article

A Strong B Cell Response Is Part of the Immune Landscape in Human High-Grade Serous Ovarian Metastases

As peritoneal metastases are often responsible for relapse, the authors’ aim was to characterize the role of B cells in the anti-tumor immune response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer metastases. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

NKp80 Defines a Critical Step during Human Natural Killer Cell Development

The authors identified two secondary lymphoid tissue lineage⁻CD34⁻CD117^+/−CD94⁺CD16⁻ “stage 4” subsets according to expression of the C-type lectin-like surface-activating receptor, NKp80: NKp80⁻ and NKp80⁺. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Th17/Treg Imbalance Induced by Dietary Salt Variation Indicates Inflammation of Target Organs in Humans

By flow cytometry analysis, scientists demonstrated that switching to a high-salt diet resulted in decreased Th17 cells and reciprocally increased Treg cells, leading to a decreased Th17/Treg ratio. Meanwhile, Th17-related pathway was down-regulated after one day of high salt loading, with the increase in high salt loading as shown by microarray and RT-PCR. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Cytokine-Independent Approach to Identify Antigen-Specific Human Germinal Center T Follicular Helper Cells and Rare Antigen-Specific CD4⁺ T Cells in Blood

Researchers developed a cytokine-independent activation-induced marker (AIM) methodology to identify Ag-specific germinal center (GC) T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in human lymphoid tissue. Whereas Group A Streptococcus–specific GC Tfh cells produced minimal detectable cytokines by intracellular cytokine staining, the AIM method identified 85-fold more Ag-specific GC Tfh cells. [J Immunol] Abstract

Interferon-β Therapy Specifically Reduces Pathogenic Memory B Cells in Multiple Sclerosis Patients by Inducing a FAS-Mediated Apoptosis

Researchers found that in vivo interferon-β therapy specifically and highly induced apoptosis in memory B cells, in accordance with a strong increase of the apoptotic markers Annexin-V and active caspase-3, via a mechanism requiring the FAS-receptor/TACI signaling. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Human CD39^hi Regulatory T Cells Present Stronger Stability and Function under Inflammatory Conditions

Human CD39^hi Tregs and CD39^low Tregs were sorted from Tregs in vitro after seven days of expansion. The functions of both Treg subsets were investigated under inflammatory conditions in vitro and in vivo. [Cell Mol Immunol] Full Article

Association of γδ T Cell Compartment Size to Disease Activity and Response to Therapy in SLE

Scientists characterized the γδT cell compartment in SLE and correlate its status to disease severity and response to therapy. Human peripheral blood-derived γδ T cells were isolated from 14 healthy volunteers and 22 SLE patients. [PLoS One] Full Article

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At the Bedside: Clinical Review of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapy for B Cell Malignancies

The authors present a thorough overview of the preclinical and clinical development of CAR T cell therapy that will highlight important areas for the basic researcher to investigate in the laboratory and contribute to this exciting field. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the human immunology research field.

Novartis Adds Bispecific Antibodies to Its Growing Immuno-Oncology Portfolio through Collaboration and Licensing Agreement with Xencor

Novartis announced that it has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Xencor for the development of bispecific antibodies for treating cancer. The agreement is the latest in a series of acquisitions and strategic collaborations between Novartis and biotech companies that have helped bolster its deep and diverse immuno-oncology pipeline. [Novartis AG] Press Release

OSE Immunotherapeutics Announces Exercise of Option within Global License Agreement with Janssen for further Clinical Development of FR104 and Potential Commercialization in Autoimmune Diseases

OSE Immunotherapeutics SA announced the exercise by Janssen Biotech, Inc. of the option within the global license agreement between Janssen and OSE Immunotherapeutics. Under the terms of this agreement, Janssen will be responsible for all clinical development, registration and commercialization activities for FR104, internationally, in the areas of autoimmune diseases and transplantation. [OSE Immunotherapeutics SA] Press Release

NEW HIV Glasgow
October 23-26, 2016
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the human immunology community.

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Mucosal immunology (KU Leuven)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuro-Immunology (UT Austin)

Research Associate – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Technical Sales Representative (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – T Cell Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

NEW Postdoctoral/Senior Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Georgia Cancer Center)

Tenure Track Positions – Chemical Immunology (Institute for Chemical Immunology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine (Stanford University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Immune Focused In Vitro Research (Celentyx Ltd)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Thymic and Immune Regeneration (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Saarland University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Immunology (Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason)

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