Human Immunology News Volume 6.19 | May 15 2018

TOP STORY

Proteomic Analyses of Human Regulatory T Cells Reveal Adaptations in Signaling Pathways that Protect Cellular Identity

To obtain a molecular definition of regulatory T cell identity, investigators performed proteomics and transcriptomics on various populations of human regulatory and conventional CD4⁺ T cells. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Trained Memory of Human Uterine NK Cells Enhances Their Function in Subsequent Pregnancies

Several diseases of poor placental development are associated with first pregnancies, so scientists looked to characterize differences in decidual natural killer (NK) cells in first versus repeated pregnancies. They discovered a population found in repeated pregnancies, which has a unique transcriptome and epigenetic signature, and is characterized by high expression of the receptors NKG2C and LILRB1. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Human Liver Infiltrating γδ T Cells Are Composed of Clonally Expanded Circulating and Tissue-Resident Populations

The authors characterized the TCR diversity, immunophenotype and function of human liver infiltrating γδ T-cells, focusing on the predominant tissue-associated Vδ2^neg γδ subset, which is implicated in liver immunopathology. [J Hepatol] Abstract

Simulated Night Shift Work Induces Circadian Misalignment of the Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Transcriptome

Researchers investigated the effect of a four-day simulated night shift work protocol on the circadian regulation of the human transcriptome. Repeated blood samples were collected over two 24-hour measurement periods from eight healthy subjects under highly controlled laboratory conditions before and four days after a ten-hour delay of their habitual sleep period. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Human Intestinal Pro-Inflammatory CD11c^highCCR2⁺CX3CR1⁺ Macrophages, But Not Their Tolerogenic CD11c⁻CCR2⁻CX3CR1⁻ Counterparts, Are Expanded in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

CD11c^high monocyte-like cells produced IL-1β, both in resting conditions and after LPS stimulation, while CD11c⁻ macrophage-like cells produced IL-10. CD11c^high pro-inflammatory monocyte-like cells, but not the others, were increased in the inflamed colon from patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

PiggyBac-Engineered T-Cells Expressing CD19-Specific CARs that Lack IgG1 Fc Spacers Have Potent Activity against B-ALL Xenografts

Researchers designed three CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that lacked the IgG1 Fc region, and incorporated combinations of CD28 or 4-1BB transmembrane and co-stimulatory domains. PiggyBac-generated CAR19 T-cells expressing these re-designed constructs all demonstrated reactivity in vitro specifically against CD19⁺ cell lines. [Mol Ther] Abstract

CD47-Ligation Induced Cell Death in T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Scientists describe a commercially available monoclonal antibody, CC2C6, which induces T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell death in soluble form. Soluble CC2C6 induced CD47-dependent cell death in a manner consistent with immobilized B6H12, which was characterized by mitochondrial deficiencies but is independent of caspase activation. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Silver Nanoparticles Promote the Emergence of Heterogeneic Human Neutrophil Sub-Populations

Human neutrophil viability following silver nanoparticle (AgNP) or Ag Bulk treatment was analysed by flow cytometry and AnV/PI staining. Whilst AgNP exposure did not increase the total number of apoptotic neutrophils, the number of late apoptotic neutrophils was increased, suggesting AgNP increase transit through apoptosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

RUNX1 Promotes Cell Growth in Human T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia by Transcriptional Regulation of Key Target Genes

Scientists knocked down RUNX1 in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines and deleted Runx1 or Cbfb in primary mouse T-cell leukemias. RUNX1 depletion consistently resulted in reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. [Exp Hematol] Abstract

A Novel Dendritic Cell-Based Direct Ex Vivo Assay for Detection and Enumeration of Circulating Antigen-Specific Human T Cells

Researchers developed a novel methodology utilizing antigen-pulsed autologous human dendritic target cells in a rapid and sensitive assay to accurately enumerate antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell precursor frequency by multiparametric flow cytometry. [Cytotechnology] Abstract

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Contemporary Understanding of the Secretory Granules in Human Eosinophils

The authors review the current knowledge on the architecture, composition, and function of eosinophil specific granules as highly elaborated organelles able to produce vesiculotubular carriers and to interplay with the intracellular vesicular trafficking. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

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

Atara Biotherapeutics Expands T-Cell Immunotherapy Collaboration to Advance Next-Generation CAR T Technologies in Oncology, Autoimmune and Other Diseases

Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced the company has expanded its collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to develop the next generation of genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T immunotherapies. [Atara Biotherapeutics] Press Release

Medigene Significantly Expands TCR Alliance with bluebird bio in Cancer Immunotherapy

Medigene AG announced the significant expansion of its successful strategic alliance with bluebird bio focusing on the research and development of T cell receptor-modified T cell (TCR-T) immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. [Medigene AG] Press Release

Kite Announces New Worldwide Facilities and Expanded Collaboration with National Cancer Institute to Support Cell Therapy Pipeline

Kite announced it has leased a new facility in the Netherlands to engineer cell therapies in Europe. The 117,000 square-foot site in Hoofddorp will enable Kite to efficiently manufacture and deliver its cell therapies to people living with cancer in Europe and will provide more than 300 new jobs when fully operational in 2020. [Gilead] Press Release

Cancer-Killing Viruses Show Promise — and Draw Billion-Dollar Investment

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson announced on 2 May that it would pay up to US$1 billion to acquire a company that makes cancer-killing viruses. It was a striking show of support for a still-unproven treatment, but the bid is just the latest sign that industry and academics are warming to the approach. [Nature News] Editorial

Why It’s Hard to Prove Gender Discrimination in Science

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, asked a judge on 11 May to dismiss portions of three gender-discrimination lawsuits filed by senior female scientists there in July 2017. To prove their cases, the plaintiffs are seeking to compel the Salk — a private research institution — to disclose information about how funds and laboratory space are allocated, as well as about complaints concerning sexual harassment and the unfair treatment of women. [Nature News] Editorial

Sacked Japanese Biologist Gets Chance to Retrain at Crick Institute

Prominent cell biologist Yoshinori Watanabe, who was dismissed by the University of Tokyo last month, is attempting to put his past behind him by embarking on an intensive retraining program with Nobel prizewinner Paul Nurse in London. The university dismissed Watanabe after an investigation concluded that he had committed scientific misconduct. [Nature News] Editorial

FDA Seeks Permanent Injunctions against Two Stem Cell Clinics

The FDA, in two complaints filed in federal court, is seeking permanent injunctions to stop two stem cell clinics from marketing stem cell products without FDA approval and for significant deviations from current good manufacturing practice requirements. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

Hungarian Scientists Are on Edge As Country Is Poised to Force Out Top University

In early April, several days after Viktor Orbán secured his third consecutive term—and fourth overall—as Hungarian prime minister with a landslide victory for his conservative party, the pro-government paper Figyelő; published a list of more than 200 people it called “mercenaries” of George Soros, the American-Hungarian billionaire philanthropist. The list included investigative journalists and human rights advocates—and 30 academics from the Soros-founded, Budapest-based Central European University. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Release of Three Americans by North Korea Bolsters Hopes for Academic Diplomacy

The release of three Americans by North Korea is being welcomed in the United States. Leaders of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology in North Korea also see the move as good news, and are hoping it might ultimately lead to the end of a travel ban that has prevented its U.S. instructors from teaching classes. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting on Lymphoma Biology
August 2-5, 2018
Chicago, Illinois, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Innate Immune Signaling (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

NEW PhD Student – Cancer Immunology (German Cancer Research Center)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellows – Immunology (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Researcher Positions – Rapid Identification of Autoantigens in Autoimmune Disease (BioMed X Innovation Center)

PhD Student – Immunology of Cell Death & Cancer Immunotherapy (KU Leuven)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Lentivirus Production (Obsidian Therapeutics)

Scientist/Senior Scientist – Bioinformatics and Data Sciences (Obsidian Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immune Signaling and Metabolism (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Research Scientist – Biomarker Development (Kymab)

Postdoctoral Position – Onco-ImmunoMetabolism (San Raffaele Scientific Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology and iPSCs (Stanford University)

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