Human Immunology News Volume 6.10 | Mar 13 2018

TOP STORY

T Cell Autoreactivity Directed toward CD1c Itself Rather than toward Carried Self Lipids

Investigators identified frequent staining of human T cells with CD1c tetramers across numerous subjects. Whereas T cell antigen receptors typically show high specificity for antigen, both tetramer binding and autoreactivity occurred with CD1c in complex with numerous, chemically diverse self lipids. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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Divergent T-Cell Receptor Recognition Modes of a HLA-I Restricted Extended Tumor-Associated Peptide

Scientists showed that the structures of two distinct T-cell receptors, originating from a polyclonal T-cell repertoire, bind to HLA-B*07:02, presenting a 13-amino-acid-long tumor-associated peptide, NY-ESO-1_60–72. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Cationic Polymers for Non-Viral Gene Delivery to Human T Cells

Researchers synthesized and evaluated a panel of cationic polymers for gene delivery to both cultured and primary human T cells. [J Control Release] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

AKR1C Enzymes Sustain Therapy Resistance in Pediatric T-ALL

The authors showed that T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells overexpress aldo-keto reductase 1C (AKR1C)1-3 enzymes in therapy-resistant patients. They report that AKR1C1-3 enzymes play a role in the response to vincristine treatment, also ex vivo in patient-derived xenografts. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

A Dual-Function Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Pathway Substrate 8 (Eps8)-Derived Peptide Exhibits a Potent Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-Activating Effect and a Specific Inhibitory Activity

Scientists demonstrated that peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes showed effective antitumor responses, including upregulation of interleukin-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, granzyme B and perforin. Treatment with peptide-sensitized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) significantly reduced the tumor growth in vivo compared with the non-peptide-sensitized PBMC treatment. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Grb2 and GRAP Connect the B Cell Antigen Receptor to Erk MAP Kinase Activation in Human B Cells

Researchers showed that in human B cells growth factor receptor-bound 2 (Grb2) and Grb2-related adaptor protein (GRAP) amplified signaling by the immunoglobulin tail tyrosine motif of mIgE-containing B cell antigen receptors and furthermore connect immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif signaling to activation of the Ras-controlled Erk MAP kinase pathway. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Enumeration, Functional Responses and Cytotoxic Capacity of MAIT Cells in Newly Diagnosed and Relapsed Multiple Myeloma

The authors showed that mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell frequency in blood is reduced compared to healthy adult donors, but comparable to elderly healthy control donors. Furthermore, there was no evidence that MAIT cells accumulated at the disease site (bone marrow) of these patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Upregulation of Glucose Uptake and Hexokinase Activity of Primary Human CD4⁺ T Cells in Response to Infection with HIV-1

Scientists investigated the expression of glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes in human CD4⁺ T cells in response to infection with HIV-1. [Viruses] Full Article

Elevated Levels of Follicular T Helper Cells and Their Association with Therapeutic Effects in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Researchers investigated the dynamic change of circulating follicular T helper cells in peripheral blood from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia during the treatment periods to evaluate their utility to predict disease progression. [Immunol Lett] Abstract

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The Full Spectrum of Human Naive T Cells

The authors provide an integrated, revised view of the naive T cell compartment and discuss its implications for healthy ageing, neonatal immunity and T cell reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

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

UC San Diego Researchers Launch Combination Drug Trial to Eradicate B-Cell Malignancies

Fueled by a multimillion dollar grant from the state’s stem cell agency, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, in collaboration with Oncternal Therapeutics, have launched a Phase Ib/II clinical trial to evaluate the combined effectiveness of a standard of care drug with a novel monoclonal antibody that target B-cell malignancies, which include leukemias and lymphomas. [University of California San Diego School of Medicine] Press Release

MD Anderson and Berkeley Lights Launch Optera Therapeutics to Accelerate Development of Cell Therapies for Cancer

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Berkeley Lights, Inc. announced the launch of Optera Therapeutics Corp, a biopharmaceutical company developing cell therapies with scalable manufacturing solutions for cancer. [The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

Russian Science Chases Escape from Mediocrity

After letting Russian science languish for years, Vladimir Putin has started to pay more attention. At a meeting of the Council for Science and Education, the Russian president promised that science and innovation are now top priorities. [Nature News] Editorial

University Strikes to Continue after Staff Reject Pension Offer

Strikes at UK universities are to continue after staff overwhelmingly rejected a revised offer on their pensions. [The Guardian] Editorial

Key Republican Lawmaker Releases New ‘Right-to-Try’ Legislation

A key Republican lawmaker released a new version of so-called “right to try” legislation, a pivotal next step in the effort to help dying patients get access to experimental therapies. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW Aegean Conferences: 2^nd International Conference on Tissue Repair, Regeneration, and Fibrosis
June 13-18, 2018
Crete, Greece

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

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Immunology (Saint Louis University)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Allergic Disease Inflammation Research (La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Oncology (H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research Institute)

Scientist – Immune Tolerance (Moderna Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology and iPSCs (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Immunity and Inflammation (University of Illinois)

Principal Scientist – Immunosciences Drug Discovery (Bristol-Myers Squibb)

Postdoctoral Fellow – T-Cell Therapy (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

PhD Studentship – Treg Cell Research (Universitätsklinikum Carl-Gustav-Carus Dresden)

Postdoctoral Scientist Opportunities – Biomedical Research (Cedars-Sinai)

Senior Director – Immuno-Oncology Research (Alector LLC)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology/Vascular/Stromal Biology (Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medicine)

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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