Human Immunology News Volume 4.45 | Nov 15 2016

TOP STORY

Regulatory T Cells Exhibit Distinct Features in Human Breast Cancer

Researchers analyzed features of regulatory T (Treg) cells in untreated human breast carcinomas, normal mammary gland, and peripheral blood. Tumor-resident Treg cells were potently suppressive and their gene-expression pattern resembled that of normal breast tissue, but not of activated peripheral blood Treg cells. [Immunity] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Tracking T-Cell Immune Reconstitution after TCRαβ/CD19-Depleted Hematopoietic Cells Transplantation in Children

Scientists employed molecular barcoding-normalized T-cell receptor (TCR) profiling to quantitatively track T-cell immune reconstitution after TCRαβ/CD19-depleted transplantation in children. [Leukemia] Abstract

Epipolymorphisms Associated with the Clinical Outcome of Autoimmune Arthritis Effect CD4⁺ T Cell Activation Pathways

Investigators explored the CD4⁺ T-cell DNA methylome of 68 poly-articular and extended oligo-articular juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients, before and after anti-TNF therapy withdrawal, to identify features associated with maintenance of inactive disease. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Tethered IL-15 Augments Antitumor Activity and Promotes a Stem-Cell Memory Subset in Tumor-Specific T Cells

The authors report a clinically relevant approach to generating chimeric antigen receptor positive T cells with preserved T-memory stem cells potential using the Sleeping Beauty platform. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Impaired T Cell-Dependent Humoral Immune Response Associated with Juvenile-Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Progression

Expanded CD3⁻CD19⁺ B cells with down-regulation of CD23, CD40, HLA-DR and up-regulation of CD86 expression were found in the peripheral blood of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) patients. Flow cytometry analysis of B-cell compartment showed that the frequency of both CD19⁺CD27^hi plasma cells and CD19⁺CD27⁺ memory B cells were decreased in JORRP patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Analysis of CD83 Expression on Human Immune Cells Identifies a Unique CD83⁺-Activated T Cell Population

To understand the biology of CD83, the authors examined its expression in different human immune cell types before and after activation using a panel of mouse and human anti-human CD83 mAb. [J Immunol] Abstract

B-Cell Activation with CD40L or CpG Measures the Function of B-Cell Subsets and Identifies Specific Defects in Immunodeficient Patients

Researchers showed that T-independent stimulation with CpG measures proliferation and differentiation potential of memory B cells. Switched memory B cells respond better than IgM memory B cells. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

The Expression of Bcl-6 in Circulating Follicular Helper-Like T Cells Positively Correlates with the Disease Activity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Scientists found that the frequencies of CD4⁺ CXCR5^hiPD-1^hicirculating follicular helper-like T cell (cTfh), CD4⁺ CXCR5^hiPD-1^hiICOS^hi, and CD4⁺ CXCR5^hiPD-1^hiBcl-6⁺ populations were significantly increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients when compared with healthy controls. [Clin Immunol] Abstract

CD32b Expression Is Down-Regulated on Double-Negative Memory B Cells in Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Scientists investigated B cell subset distribution and CD32b expression within subsets in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) patients. B cell subset distribution and CD32b expression were analyzed in 60 HT patients and 21 healthy donors. [Mol Cell Endocrinol] Abstract

Lipid Mediators Foster the Differentiation of T Follicular Helper Cells

Investigators determined the functional significance of arachidonate 5-lipoxyganase-related lipid mediators during the processes of acquired humoral responses. [Immunol Lett] Abstract

Subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News & Immune Regulation News.

Heterogeneity, Functional Specialization and Differentiation of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

The relationship between murine monocyte subsets and the monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) that arise from them is discussed. Their role in initiating and modulating innate and adaptive immune responses in various pathophysiological scenarios is also explored, including how they may separate their labor from conventional DCs. How these findings might relate to their human counterparts is also discussed. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Biothera Pharmaceuticals Preclinical Data Further Validate Mechanism of its Phase II Cancer Immunotherapy, Imprime PGG

Biothera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will present new preclinical data that further validate the ability of its Phase II cancer immunotherapy drug Imprime PGG to induce coordinated innate and adaptive immune responses that may enhance the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor therapies. [Press release from Biothera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2016, National Harbor] Press Release

NantKwest Announces Achievement of End Point in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Phase II Trial with Evidence of Efficacy of Activated Natural Killer (aNK) Cells in Solid Tumors

NantKwest Inc. announced a presentation of early analysis of the company’s ongoing Phase II Merkel cell carcinoma study. [Press release from NantKwest Inc. discussing research presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2016, National Harbor] Press Release

Nektar Therapeutics Presents New Clinical Data from Ongoing Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of NKTR-214

Nektar Therapeutics announced that new Phase I clinical data for Nektar’s lead immuno-oncology agent, NKTR-214, were presented. [Press release from Nektar Therapeutics discussing research presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2016, National Harbor] Press Release

Immunocore Presents Positive Monotherapy Data in Uveal Melanoma

Immunocore Limited will present positive data from its Phase I clinical monotherapy trial in uveal melanoma of its lead product, IMCgp100, an ImmTAC (Immune mobilizing monoclonal T cell receptors Against Cancer). [Press release from Immunocore Limited discussing research presented at the Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) 2016 Congress, Boston] Press Release

Single Dose of Omeros’ Lead MASP-3 Inhibitor OMS906 Shows Multi-Week Blockade of the Alternative Pathway

Omeros Corporation announced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data from the evaluation of OMS906 in non-human primates. OMS906 inhibits mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-3 (MASP-3), the protein critical to activation of the alternative pathway of complement, a key component of the immune system. [Omeros Corporation] Press Release

European Commission Approves STELARA^® (Ustekinumab) for Treatment of Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn’s Disease

Janssen-Cilag International NV announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved the use of STELARA^® for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have had an inadequate response with, lost response to, or were intolerant to either conventional therapy or a tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonist or have medical contraindications to such therapies. [Janssen-Cilag International NV] Press Release

Leap Therapeutics Presents Data from Phase I Study of GITR Agonist

Leap Therapeutics, Inc. announced the presentation of data from its Phase I clinical trial of TRX518 in patients with advanced relapsed or refractory solid tumors. [Leap Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

ASIT biotech Takes Important Steps in US Clinical Development of gp-ASIT+™, its Lead Drug Candidate for Grass Pollen Rhinitis

ASIT biotech presented its recent breakthroughs in the preparation of the clinical development in the United States of its first drug candidate designed to treat grass pollen rhinitis, gp-ASIT+™. [ASIT biotech] Press Release

Selexis SA and OSE Immunotherapeutics Collaborate to Advance Development of Immunotherapies for Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases

Selexis SA and OSE Immunotherapeutics SA announced the signing of two service agreements that provide OSE Immunotherapeutics with access to high performance research cell banks from the Selexis SUREtechnology Platform™. [Selexis SA] Press Release

MabVax Therapeutics Reports Interim Safety and Imaging Results from Phase I Clinical Trials in HuMab-5B1 Antibody Development Programs

MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. reported on progress from its two HuMab-5B1 antibody Phase I programs evaluating the use of MVT-5873 as a therapeutic antibody and MVT-2163 as an immuno-PET imaging agent in patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer or other CA19-9 positive malignancies. [MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.] Press Release

CRISPR Gene-Editing Tested in a Person for the First Time

A Chinese group has become the first to inject a person with cells that contain genes edited using the revolutionary CRISPR–Cas9 technique. A team led by oncologist Lu You at Sichuan University in Chengdu delivered the modified cells into a patient with aggressive lung cancer as part of a clinical trial at the West China Hospital, also in Chengdu. The move by Chinese scientists could spark a biomedical duel between China and the United States. [Nature News] Editorial

Rwanda Feels the Pinch as Donors Slash Health Aid

Rwanda has made major public-health strides since the country’s genocide against the Tutsi people ended in June 1994, but declines in foreign aid now threaten that progress. Donors such as the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have reduced assistance to Rwanda by 40% over the past three years, jeopardizing advances in a country seen as a development success story. [Nature News] Editorial

Disgraced Stem-Cell Entrepreneur under Fresh Investigation

Public prosecutors in Turin, Italy, are investigating whether disgraced stem-cell entrepreneur Davide Vannoni — convicted on criminal charges last year for administering unproven stem-cell therapies in Italy — is offering his treatments again, this time in eastern Europe. [Nature News] Editorial

The Ultimate Experiment: How Trump Will Handle Science

The long campaign for the White House is over — but incoming US president Donald Trump’s work is just starting. With just two months before his inauguration on 20 January, he and his staff are busy vetting candidates for top government jobs and clarifying the agenda for his first few months in office. [Nature News] Editorial

Embryonic Stem Cells and Fetal Tissue Research—Will Trump Intervene?

Of all the materials valued in biomedical research, embryonic stem (ES) cells and fetal tissue have gotten disproportionate attention from politicians. Because creating ES cell lines initially requires destroying a human embryo, President George W. Bush tightly restricted the use of federal funds for research on all but a few stem cell lines. President Barack Obama then made lifting those restrictions one of his first official actions after he took office in 2009. [Science Insider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium: TGFβ in Immunity, Inflammation and Cancer
January 9-13, 2017
Taos, United States

NEW ANOTHER DEATH in the ALPS: Cell Death, Inflammation and Cancer
January 10-14, 2017
Obergurgl, Austria

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher Position – Immunology/Molecular Biology (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Position – Development of Immune System (Lund University)

Scientist – T Cells in Autoimmune Diabetes (Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen)

Assistant Professor – Microbiology and Immunology (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Associate – Immunology (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Principal Investigator – Immunology (Singapore Immunology Network)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Klinikum der Universität München)

Faculty Positions – Immunology (Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Immunology (University of California San Diego School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Stem Cell Biology & Immunology (Toronto General Research Institute & McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine)

Assistant Associate – Cancer Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Human Immunology News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.