Human Immunology News Volume 6.20 | May 22 2018

TOP STORY

Bystander CD8⁺ T Cells Are Abundant and Phenotypically Distinct in Human Tumor Infiltrates

Researchers showed that human lung and colorectal cancer CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can not only be specific for tumor antigens, but also recognize a wide range of epitopes unrelated to cancer. They found that these bystander CD8⁺ TILs have diverse phenotypes that overlap with tumor-specific cells, but lack CD39 expression. [Nature] Full Article

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CARD9^S12N Facilitates the Production of IL-5 by Alveolar Macrophages for the Induction of Type 2 Immune Responses

Investigators identified the homozygous CARD9 mutation encoding S12N in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and revealed activation of RelB and production of IL-5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these patients. [Nat Immunol] Full Article

Disease-Driving CD4⁺ T Cell Clonotypes Persist for Decades in Celiac Disease

Single and bulk populations of HLA-DQ:gluten tetramer-sorted CD4⁺ T cells were analyzed by high-throughput DNA sequencing of rearranged TCR-α and -β genes. Blood and gut biopsy samples from 21 celiac disease patients, taken at various stages of disease and in intervals of weeks to decades apart, were examined. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

In Vitro Priming of Adoptively Transferred T Cells with a RORγ Agonist Confers Durable Memory and Stemness In Vivo

Scientists demonstrated that addition of a synthetic, small molecule RORγ agonist during ex vivo expansion potentiates the anti-tumor activity of human Th17 and Tc17 cells redirected with a CAR. [Cancer Res] 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⁻ Mϕ-like cells produced IL-10. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Automated Expansion of Primary Human T Cells in Scalable and Cell-Friendly Hydrogel Microtubes for Adoptive Immunotherapy

A novel cell culture technology is reported for expanding primary human T cells for adoptive immunotherapy. T cells were suspended and cultured in microscale alginate hydrogel tubes that were suspended in the cell culture medium in a culture vessel. [Adv Healthc Mater] Abstract

Providence of CD25⁺KIR⁺CD127^–FOXP3^–CD8⁺ T Cell Subset Determines the Dynamics of Tumor Immune Surveillance

At an early stage of tumor development, the authors identified a subset of FOXP3-negative CD8⁺CD25⁺KIR⁺CD127^– a Treg-like subset which is essentially IFNγ-positive. However, this early induced CD8⁺CD25⁺CD127^– T cell subset certainly distinct from the IFNγ⁺CD8⁺ T-effecter cells. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

AICAR Inhibits NFκB DNA Binding Independently of AMPK to Attenuate LPS-Triggered Inflammatory Responses in Human Macrophages

Scientists report a potent suppression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory gene expression by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) in primary human macrophages, which occurred independently of its conversion to AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-activating 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl monophosphate. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Correlative and Quantitative Imaging Approach Enabling Characterization of Primary Cell-Cell Communication: Case of Human CD4⁺ T Cell-Macrophage Immunological Synapses

Investigators present a straightforward correlative imaging approach utilizing commonly available instrumentation to sample large numbers of cell-cell interaction events, allowing qualitative and quantitative characterization of rare functioning cell-conjugates based on calcium signals. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CD39 Is Upregulated during Activation of Mouse and Human T Cells and Attenuates the Immune Response to Listeria monocytogenes

Scientists demonstrated that upregulation of CD39 is a consistent feature of activated conventional CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. Following stimulation in vitro, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from human blood gained surface expression of CD39 but displayed only low levels of CD73. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Cytokine Production by Human Neutrophils: Revisiting the “Dark Side of the Moon”

The authors summarize the main features of, as well as emphasize some important concepts on, the production of cytokines by human neutrophils. [Eur J Clin Invest] Abstract

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

Obsidian Presents Preclinical Data Showing Advancement of Its Regulated IL12 and IL15 Programs to Enable Safer and More Effective CAR-T Therapies

Obsidian Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the company presented preclinical data on its regulated IL12 and IL15 programs. [Press release from Obsidian Therapeutics, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Chicago] Press Release

ToolGen, Inc. Demonstrates CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Improves Anti-Tumor Activity of Human CAR-T Cells

ToolGen, Inc. announced data demonstrating that blocking a molecular pathway that down-regulates T-cell activity with the company’s CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing platform resulted in increased T-cell receptor signaling, in vitro, and in improved anti-tumor activity when tested against in a mouse glioblastoma tumor model. [Press release from ToolGen, Inc. (GlobeNewswire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, Chicago] Press Release

Fate Therapeutics and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Expand Scope of License Agreement to Include Gene-Edited T-Cell Immunotherapies

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced the company has gained access to additional intellectual property from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that enables the development of gene-edited T-cell immunotherapies. [Fate Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

BioLineRx Announces Grant of European Patent Covering Use of BL-8040 with Cytarabine for Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia

BioLineRx Ltd. announced that the European Patent Office has issued a Decision to Grant a patent claiming the use of BL-8040 with cytarabine, a chemotherapeutic agent, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. [BioLineRx Ltd.] Press Release

Science Needs Clarity on Europe’s Data-Protection Law

As a commendable European law on personal data comes into force, the research community must not let excessive caution about data sharing, however understandable, become the default position. [Nature News] Editorial

Indonesian Plan to Clamp down on Foreign Scientists Draws Protest

The government’s proposals include stricter rules, and tougher penalties for researchers who break existing ones. [Nature News] Editorial

Defeated but Unbowed: Two Pennsylvania Scientists Regroup after Primary Loss

Two young scientists are picking up the pieces after Pennsylvania voters shattered their dreams of winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. But neither is planning to walk away from politics. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Congress Tees Up a Vote that Could Send ‘Right-to-Try’ Measure to Trump’s Desk

Patients with life-threatening conditions could soon have a new way to ask drug makers for medicines the FDA hasn’t yet approved, if the House is able to clear a version of “right-to-try” legislation. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW 5^th European Congress of Immunology (ECI)
September 2-5, 2018
Amsterdam, Netherlands

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Boston University School of Medicine)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

PhD Student – Cancer Immunology (German Cancer Research Center)

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 Fellow – Immunology and iPSCs (Stanford University)

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