Human Immunology News 5.22 June 6, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYBrain’s Immune Cells Linked to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia Scientists have, for the first time, characterized the molecular markers that make the brain’s front lines of immune defense—cells called microglia—unique. In the process, they discovered further evidence that microglia may play roles in a variety of neurodegenerative and psychiatric illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases as well as schizophrenia, autism and depression. [Press release from the Salk Institute discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)The authors describe the development and evaluation of C-type lectin-like molecule 1-specific CAR-T cells (CLL-1.CAR-T), and demonstrated their specific activity against CLL-1+ AML cell lines as well as primary AML patient samples in vitro. [Cell Metab] Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that most natural killer (NK) cells that are found in advanced cancers are defective, releasing the malignant major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-deficient tumors from NK-cell-dependent immune control. Researchers showed that a natural killer T-cell-ligand-loaded tumor-antigen expressing antigen-presenting cell-based vaccine effectively eradicates these advanced tumors. [Nat Commun] Full Article Investigators showed that the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 mediates extracellular isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) release from dendritic cells (DC) in cooperation with apolipoprotein A-I and butyrophilin-3A1. IPP concentrations in the supernatants are sufficient to induce Vγ9Vδ2 T cell proliferation after DC mevalonate pathway inhibition with zoledronic acid. [Nat Commun] Full Article Human Uterine Lymphocytes Acquire a More Experienced and Tolerogenic Phenotype during Pregnancy Scientists immunophenotyped lymphocytes from endometrium (MMC), term decidua parietalis (DPMC), and PBMC for direct comparison. They found that the immune cell composition of MMC and DPMC clearly differ from each other, with less NK-cells, and more NKT-cells and T-cells in DPMC. [Sci Rep] Full Article The authors showed that freshly resected tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from lung cancer patients showed increased adenosine A2a receptor expression in CD4+ cells and variable expression in CD8+ cells. Ex vivo studies showed an increased responsiveness of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes when PBF-509 was combined with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1. [Neoplasia] Full Article Investigators present data on the potential clinical activity of the monoclonal antibody CSL362, which binds to interleukin-3 receptor-α (CD123) with high affinity. They first validated the expression of CD123 by 100% of patient samples and the correlation of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations with the high frequency of CD123 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In vitro studies demonstrated that CSL362 potently induced antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) of AML blasts including CD34+CD38−CD123+ leukemic stem cells by natural killer cells (NKs). [Blood Cancer J] Full Article To analyze the role of C/EBPβ for the unusual phenotype of ALK+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) cells, C/EBPβ was knocked down by RNA interference in two Aanaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) ALCL cell lines, and surface antigen expression profiles of these cell lines were generated using a Human Cell Surface Marker Screening Panel. Interesting candidate antigens were further analyzed by immunohistochemistry in primary ALCL ALK+ and ALK− cases. Antigen expression profiling revealed marked changes in the expression of the activation markers CD25, CD30, CD98, CD147, and CD227 after C/EBPβ knockdown. [Lab Invest] Abstract Researchers aimed to improve the graft-versus-tumor effect, without increasing the risk of GvHD, by targeting hematopoietic lineage-restricted and tumor-associated minor histocompatibility antigens using peptide-loaded dendritic cell vaccinations. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract Subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News & Immune Regulation News. | |
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REVIEWSThe Non-Canonical NF-κB Pathway in Immunity and Inflammation The author reviews the signaling mechanisms and the biological function of the non-canonical nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. They also discuss recent progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating non-canonical NF-κB pathway activation, which may provide new opportunities for therapeutic strategies. [Nat Immunol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the human immunology research field. | |
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SCIENCE NEWSCAR T-Cell Therapy Sends Multiple Myeloma into Lasting Remission In an early clinical trial, 33 out of 35 (94%) patients had clinical remission of multiple myeloma upon receiving a new type of immunotherapy – chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B-cell maturation protein. Most patients had only mild side effects. [Press release from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) discussing research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago] Press Release Two Combination Therapies Shrink Melanoma Brain Metastases in More than Half of Patients A combination regimen of two immunotherapies and another of two targeted therapies each significantly shrank metastatic brain tumors in at least 50% of patients in separate multi-center clinical trials. [Press release from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release Immunotherapy Combination Shows Promise in Early Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer A Yale Cancer Center clinical trial combining the immune checkpoint inhibitor with chemotherapy as preoperative treatment for early stage triple negative breast cancer disclosed a 71% pathologic complete response to the combination treatment in the initial Phase I trial. By comparison, chemotherapies alone produce a pathologic complete response rate of only around 35-40% for women with triple negative breast cancer. [Press release from the University of Yale Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release NantKwest and Nantworks announced the expansion of the company’s existing NANT Cancer Vaccine program in pancreatic cancer to target a number of additional tumor types. [Press release from NantKwest (2017 Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSACEA Biosciences and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have entered into a collaboration to evaluate a personalized ex vivo potency assay using cancer patients’ malignant pleural effusions and ACEA’s xCELLigence Real-Time Cell Analysis instrument to monitor destruction of the cancer cells by the patient’s own genetically modified CAR T cells. [ACEA Biosciences] Press Release Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced it has entered into a clinical research collaboration with Novartis to investigate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Opdivo and Opdivo + Yervoy regimen in combination with Mekinist®, as a potential treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer in patients with microsatellite stable tumors where the tumors are proficient in mismatch repair. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and QIAGEN have signed an agreement to explore the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to develop gene expression profiles as predictive or prognostic tools for use with Bristol-Myers Squibb novel immuno-oncology therapies in cancer treatment. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release Warren Alpert Foundation Honors Five Pioneers in Cancer Immunology The 2017 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize has been awarded to five scientists for transformative discoveries in the field of cancer immunology. Collectively, their work has elucidated foundational mechanisms in cancer’s ability to evade immune recognition and, in doing so, has profoundly altered the understanding of disease development and treatment. Their discoveries have led to the development of effective immune therapies for several types of cancer. [The President and Fellows of Harvard College] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSRomania’s Science Reforms Prompt Boycott Researchers in Romania are stepping up protests against controversial government science reforms. Hundreds of scientists at leading research institutions say they will refuse to sit on national panels that assess and award grants, after the Romanian researchers’ association Ad Astra called for the boycott. But not all scientists in the country support the move. [Nature News] Editorial NIH Plan to Reduce Overhead Payments Draws Fire President Donald Trump’s administration has brought a long-simmering debate over how the U.S. government supports university research back to a boil. In its 2018 budget proposal, the White House proposes cutting so-called indirect cost payments that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) makes to universities, hospitals, and research institutes by about two-thirds, to 10% of each grant. The administration says the change would allow it to redirect about $4.6 billion now spent each year on overhead—including maintaining labs and complying with regulations—to research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW Cell Symposium: Emerging and Re-Emerging Viruses NEW Society for Leucocyte Biology (SLB) Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Research Technician in Cancer Immunotherapy (University College London (UCL)) Scientific Sales Representative – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Innate Immunity (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Innate and Adaptive Immunity (Stanford University) Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Weill Cornell Medicine) Scientist – Analytical Development (KBI Biopharma) Senior Scientific Researcher – Personalized Cancer Vaccines (Genentech) Faculty Position – Cancer Immunology (Mayo Clinic) Postdoctoral Fellow – Innate Immunity and Neurodegeneration (Mount Sinai Health System) 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.
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Home Human Immunology News Volume 5.22 | Jun 6 2017