Human Immunology News Volume 6.36 | Sep 11 2018

TOP STORY

CD56 Expression Marks Human Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell Divergence from a Shared NK Cell and Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cell Developmental Pathway

Scientists elucidated key steps of natural killer (NK) cell, innate lymphoid cell (ILC)2, and ILC3 development within human tonsils using ex vivo molecular and functional profiling and lineage differentiation assays. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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An Immunoregulatory and Tissue-Residency Program Modulated by c-MAF in Human T_H17 Cells

Investigators characterized two human CD4⁺ T_H17 helper cell subsets that, in the recently activated state, could be distinguished on the basis of their expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

The Translational Machinery of Human CD4⁺ T Cells Is Poised for Activation and Controls the Switch from Quiescence to Metabolic Remodeling

The molecular mechanisms coordinating the naive to effector transition are central to the functioning of the immune system, but remain elusive. Scientists discovered that T cells fulfill this transitional process through translational control. [Cell Metab] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Eosinophils Increase Airway Sensory Nerve Density in Mice and in Human Asthma

Researchers tested whether eosinophils alter airway nerve structure and measured the physiological consequences of those changes. Results in humans with and without eosinophilic asthma showed that airway innervation and substance P expression were increased in moderate persistent asthmatics compared to mild intermittent asthmatics and healthy subjects. [Sci Transl Med] Full Article | Press Release

Interferon Priming Is Essential for Human CD34⁺ Cell-Derived Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Maturation and Function

Investigators showed that plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) precursors differentiated from human CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells has low surface expression of pDC markers, and has limited induction of type I interferon and IL-6 upon TLR7 and TLR9 agonists treatment. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Human Lymph Node Microenvironment Unilaterally Regulates T-Cell Activation and Differentiation

Scientists showed that fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) create a regulatory checkpoint in human peripheral T-cell activation through four mechanisms simultaneously utilized. Human tonsil and lymph node-derived FRCs constrained the proliferation of both naïve and pre-activated T cells, skewing their differentiation away from a central memory T-cell phenotype. [PLoS Biol] Full Article | Press Release

mRNA Vaccination with Charge-Altering Releasable Transporters Elicits Human T Cell Responses and Cures Established Tumors in Mice

The authors describe the development and evaluation of a versatile and highly efficient mRNA vaccine-delivery system that employs charge-altering releasable transporters (CARTs) to deliver antigen-coding mRNA to antigen-presenting cells. They demonstrated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that CART vaccines can activate a robust antigen-specific immune response against mRNA-encoded viral epitopes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Inhibition of TRF2 Accelerates Telomere Attrition and DNA Damage in Naïve CD4 T Cells during HCV Infection

Researchers found that naïve CD4 T cells in chronically hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients were significantly reduced due to apoptosis compared with age-matched healthy subjects. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Sphingosine Kinases Promote IL-17 Expression in Human T Lymphocytes

The authors report that sphingosine (Sph) kinases regulate IL-17 expression in human T cells. SphKs inhibition impaired the production of IL-17, while their overexpression up-regulated expression of the cytokine through acetylation of IL-17 promoter. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PD-1 Has a Unique Capacity to Inhibit Allergen-Specific Human CD4⁺ T Cell Responses

Researchers addressed the role of the major coinhibitory receptors PD-1, CTLA-4, BTLA and LAG-3 in allergen-specific CD4⁺ T cell responses. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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NKT Cells – New Players in CAR Cell Immunotherapy?

The authors summarize the biological features of natural killer T (NKT) cells, their role in antitumor immunity and recent advances in the development of NKT CAR cells. [Eur J Haematol] Abstract | Full Article

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Eureka Therapeutics Achieves Regression of Metastatic Liver Cancer Using ET140202 T-Cell Therapy

Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. announced preliminary safety and clinical results from its ongoing proof-of-concept study of ET140202 T-cell therapy in AFP-positive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most prevalent form of liver cancer. [Press release from Eureka Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 CAR-TCR Summit, Boston] Press Release

Biothera Pharmaceuticals Announces Immuno-Oncology Clinical Trial Collaboration with AstraZeneca

Biothera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced a clinical collaboration with AstraZeneca to evaluate whether the combination of Biothera’s Imprime PGG and AstraZeneca’s durvalumab can decrease tumor volume in patients with primary untreated locally advanced head and neck cancer prior to surgical resection. [Biothera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

CCRM Liaises to Advance Regenerative Medicine Internationally in Japan

CCRM and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine have agreed to collaborate to advance the field of regenerative medicine and cell and gene therapies in Canada and Japan, signing a Memorandum of Understanding. [CCRM] Press Release

Advocate for Women in Science Wins Prestigious Lasker Award

Pioneers in anaesthesiology, DNA structure and RNA biology are this year’s Lasker Awards recipients. The annual prize rewards achievements in biomedical research and is often considered a precursor to the Nobel. [Nature News] Editorial

Peer Reviewers in Developing Nations Are Underrepresented, Report Suggests

Combined, scientists spend nearly 70 million hours peer reviewing manuscripts for scholarly journals every year, a new report says. But too much of the onus rests on researchers in wealthy countries, according to the report by the company Publons—based in London and Wellington—which enables researchers to track and claim credit for the peer reviews they perform. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Cancer Vaccines
January 20-24, 2019
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Faculty Position – Immunology (Benaroya Research Institute)

NEW Faculty Position – Systems Immunology (Benaroya Research Institute)

NEW Project Leader – Immuno-Oncology (CELLECTIS Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (University of Nantes)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Foxp3+ T-Regulatory in Autoimmunity and Transplantation (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Postdoctoral Associates – Cancer Immunology and/or Bioinformatics (Emory University)

Institute Group Leader – Lymphocyte Biology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Therapeutics and Immunotherapy (Emory University)

Faculty Position – Aging and the Immune System (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunotherapy (California Institute for Biomedical Research)

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