Human Immunology News Volume 5.04 | Jan 31 2017

TOP STORY

Genome-Wide Analysis of Differential Transcriptional and Epigenetic Variability across Human Immune Cell Types

Scientists applied a novel analytical approach to measure and compare transcriptional and epigenetic variability genome-wide across CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes, CD66b⁺CD16⁺ neutrophils, and CD4⁺CD45RA⁺ naïve T cells from the same 125 healthy individuals. [Genome Biol] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Generation of Human Islet-Specific Regulatory T Cells by TCR Gene Transfer

Investigators demonstrated the feasibility of lentiviral-mediated T cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer to confer antigen specificity on polyclonal human regulatory T cells. [J Autoimmun] Abstract

Roxatidine Attenuates Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Inflammation via Inhibition of NF-κB and p38 MAPK Activation

Researchers investigated the anti-allergic inflammatory effects and the underlying molecular mechanism of roxatidine in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore-stimulated human mast cells-1, compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic animal model and chemical allergen-induced contact hypersensitivity models. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) Does not Deplete Mitochondrial DNA in Human T-Cell Lines at Intracellular Concentrations Exceeding Clinically Relevant Drug Exposures

The authors investigated whether clinically relevant TAF and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate exposures affect mtDNA content in human lymphocytes. Activated or resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as MT-2 and Jurkat T-cell lines, were continuously treated with ddC for 10 days to establish their susceptibility to mtDNA depletion. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

p19-Targeted ABD-Derived Protein Variants Inhibit IL-23 Binding and Exert Suppressive Control over IL-23-Stimulated Expansion of Primary Human IL-17⁺ T-Cells

Using in silico docking in combination with cell-surface competition binding assay, scientists identified a group of inhibitory candidates that substantially diminished binding of recombinant p19 to the interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor on human monocytic THP-1 cells. [Autoimmunity] Abstract

Super RLuc8-sFv; A New Luciferase-Labeled Probe for Detection of Human CD4⁺ Cells

A novel bioluminescent probe, super RLuc8-sFv, was developed in order to detect human CD4⁺ cells by fusion of an anti-human CD4 sFv to the C-terminus of super RLuc8. [Mol Biosyst] Abstract

Confident Gene Activity Prediction Based on Single Histone Modification H2BK5ac in Human Cell Lines

Researchers identified correlations between single modifications or combinations of modifications at specific nucleosome sized gene regions with transcription activity based on global histone modification and transcription data of human CD4⁺ T cells and three other human cell lines. [BMC Bioinformatics] Full Article

Low CD21 Expression Defines a Population of Recent Germinal Center Graduates Primed for Plasma Cell Differentiation

Scientists report that antigen-specific CD19⁺CD27⁺CD21^lo B cells are transiently induced 14 to 28 days after immunization, at the time germinal centers peak. [Sci Immunol] Abstract

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

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity (ADCC): Immunotherapy Strategies Enhancing Effector NK Cells

ADCC is a set of mechanisms that target cells coated with IgG antibodies of the proper subclasses to be the prey of cell-to-cell cytolysis executed by immune cells expressing FcRIIIA. These effectors include not only NK cells but also other CD16⁺ subsets such as monocyte/macrophages, NKT cells or γδ T cells. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Seattle Biotech Neovia Begins Clinical Trial for Immunotherapy Enhancing Cancer Drug

Neovia Oncology has enrolled its first patient into a Phase I clinical trial for its lead cancer drug NEV-801, a novel, multi-inhibitor drug able to enhance immunotherapy response in patients with advanced drug-resistant cancers. [Neovia Oncology] Press Release

Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute and Scancell Holdings PLC Form Partnership to Advance Lung Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trials

The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute, the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and Scancell Holdings PLC announced a collaboration to evaluate the use of Scancell’s second innovative cancer vaccine, SCIB2, from its ImmunoBody^® platform to treat non-small cell lung cancer. [Scancell Limited] Press Release

Amgen Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for ABP 501 (Biosimilar Adalimumab) for the Treatment of Certain Inflammatory Diseases

Amgen announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion for the Marketing Authorization of ABP 501, recommending approval for all available indications. [Amgen] Press Release

Cue Biopharma Debuts with $26 Million in Invested Capital to Develop Next-Generation Biologics to Selectively Control T Cell Activity

Cue Biopharma, Inc. (Cue) announced a total of $26 million of invested private capital, led by MDB Capital Group. Cue will use the proceeds to accelerate development of its novel platform of T cell receptor targeted biologics to control immune responses in patients. [Cue Biopharma, Inc.] Press Release

Meet the Scientists Affected by Trump’s Immigration Ban

Order barring citizens of seven countries from entering the United States has left many confused and afraid. Nature spoke to more than 20 researchers affected by the new policy, who described their feelings of fear, shock and determination. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Agenda Threatens US Legacy of Science Diplomacy

A newly minted leader with no experience governing at home or establishing policy abroad now oversees the United States’ vast diplomatic enterprise. US President Donald Trump has a deep bench of scientific and technical expertise to tap across multiple government agencies — but it is not clear that he will use it. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium: Injury, Inflammation and Fibrosis
March 26-30, 2017
Snowbird, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Immunology, Lung Biology, and Respiratory Infections (Boston University School of Medicine & Boston Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Dendritic Cell Function in Gut Mucosa (Technical University of Denmark)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (The University of Texas Medical School at Houston)

Senior Scientist – Immunology (Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH)

Postdoctoral Position – Visceral Pain and Neuro-Immune Interaction (KU Leuven)

Scientist Positions – Immunology (New York Blood Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Melanoma (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Immunology (Vor BioPharma)

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