Human Immunology News Volume 5.07 | Feb 21 2017

TOP STORY

Human γδ T Cells Are Quickly Reconstituted after Stem-Cell Transplantation and Show Adaptive Clonal Expansion in Response to Viral Infection

To investigate how the human γδ T cell pool is shaped during ontogeny and how it is regenerated after transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, the authors applied an RNA-based next-generation sequencing approach to monitor the dynamics of the repertoires of γδ T cell antigen receptors before and after transplantation in a prospective cohort study. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Early Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of CD8⁺ T Cell Differentiation Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

During microbial infection, responding CD8⁺ T lymphocytes differentiate into heterogeneous subsets that together provide immediate and durable protection. To elucidate the dynamic transcriptional changes that underlie this process, scientists applied a single-cell RNA-sequencing approach and analyzed individual CD8⁺ T lymphocytes sequentially throughout the course of a viral infection in vivo. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Adoptive Transfer of Invariant NKT Cells as Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma: A Phase I Clinical Trial

A Phase I clinical trial was performed of autologous in vitro expanded invariant NKT (iNKT) cells in stage IIIB-IV melanoma. Residual iNKT cells were purified from autologous leukapheresis product using an antibody against the iNKT cell receptor linked to magnetic microbeads. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Circulating Classical Monocytes Are Associated with CD11c⁺ Macrophages in Human Visceral Adipose Tissue

Scientists investigated whether blood immune cell populations are associated with their counterparts in subcutaneous (scAT) or visceral adipose tissue (vAT). Flow cytometry was performed on blood, scAT and vAT from 16 lean and 29 obese men. Circulating natural killer-cells, classical monocytes and nonclassical monocytes were higher in obese individuals. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CD4⁺CD25⁺ GARP⁺ Tregs Display a Compromised Suppressive Function in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The authors investigated the frequency and function of circulating CD4⁺CD25⁺GARP⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 45 DCM patients and 46 controls were enrolled in this study. [Immunology] Abstract

Human Th17 Migration in Three-Dimensional Collagen Involves p38 MAPK

Researchers examined the implication of p38 MAPK in regulating the migration of human Th17 cells through collagen. Using specific inhibitor and siRNA, they found that p38 is necessary for human Th17 migration in three-dimensional (3D) collagen and that 3D collagen increases p38 phosphorylation. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

Development of Cell-Based Assay for Predictively Evaluating the FcγR-Mediated Human Immune Cell Activation by Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies

Scientists developed a simple reporter cell-based assay for estimating the Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated activation of human immune effector cells by monoclonal antibodies. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Development of a Complete Human IgG Monoclonal Antibody to Transferrin Receptor 1 Targeted for Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

Investigators developed human IgG monoclonal antibodies to human transferrin receptor 1 using a phage display method to block the incorporation of the transferrin-iron complex into HTLV-1-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells for inhibiting cell growth. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract

Polyfunctional and IFN-γ Monofunctional Human CD4⁺ T Cell Populations Are Molecularly Distinct

The authors report that polyfunctional CD4⁺ T cells induced during Plasmodium falciparum blood-stage infection in humans have a unique transcriptomic profile compared with IFN-γ monofunctional CD4⁺ T cells and, thus, are molecularly distinct. [JCI Insight] Full Article

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

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

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity 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 natural killer (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.

OSE Immunotherapeutics New Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor OSE-172 (Effi-DEM)

OSE Immunotherapeutics SA announced that the company has been invited to present its SIRP-α antagonist OSE-172, and its main preclinical results. [Press release from OSE Immunotherapeutics SA discussing research presented at the 24^th Molecular Med TRI-CON 2017 Meeting, San Francisco] Press Release

Celyad Registers First Hematological Patient in CAR-T NKR-2 THINK Trial

Celyad announced a further step in the CAR-T NKR-2 THINK trial with the registration of a first refractory multiple myeloma patient. This patient is expected to receive the first dose-level in the coming weeks, opening the first cohort of the hematological arm of the study. [Celyad] Press Release

Celgene Announces Positive Results from Phase III SUNBEAM Trial of Oral Ozanimod in Patients with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Celgene Corporation announced that its Phase III SUNBEAM trial, evaluating the efficacy and safety of ozanimod, an investigational oral, selective S1P 1 and 5 receptor modulator, in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, met the primary endpoint in reducing annualized relapse rate, compared to weekly interferon β-1a. [Celgene Corporation] Press Release

Apitope Announces Positive ATX-MS-1467 Phase IIa Data in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Apitope announced positive results from the Phase IIa clinical study of its lead product candidate, ATX-MS-1467, for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. [Apitope] Press Release

Protalex Provides Update on US and EU Studies of PRTX-100 to Treat Immune Thrombocytopenia

Protalex, Inc. provided an update on its U.S. Phase I/II and European Phase Ib studies of PRTX-100 in adults with persistent, chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). PRTX-100, Protalex’s lead drug candidate, is a highly-purified form of Staphylococcal protein A and is the subject of ongoing clinical development in ITP and rheumatoid arthritis. [Protalex, Inc.] Press Release

Delay in Hiring Science Advisers Intensifies Brexit Worries

Policy experts want scientists to be at the table when government decides on environmental protection and membership of international collaborations. [Nature News] Editorial

Why the CRISPR Patent Verdict Isn’t the End of the Story

The US Patent and Trademark Office issued a key verdict this week in the battle over the intellectual property rights to the potentially lucrative gene-editing technique CRISPR–Cas9. But the fight for patent rights to CRISPR technology is by no means over. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposium, Immune Regulation in Autoimmunity and Cancer
March 26-30, 2017
Whistler, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Immune System (Lund University)

NEW Research Investigator – Immuno-Oncology (Bristol-Meyers Squibb)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation & Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Interaction between the Immune System and Pancreatic Cancer (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Regulation and Human Diseases (The Wistar Institute)

Bioinformatician – Immunology (KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology (Moderna Therapeutics)

Research Scientist – CAR-T Start-Up (Leucid Bio)

Research Assistant/Associate – Infection and Immunity (University College London)

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

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

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

Scientist Positions – Immunology (New York Blood Center)

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.