Human Immunology News Volume 6.47 | Nov 27 2018

TOP STORY

A CD4⁺ T Cell Population Expanded in Lupus Blood Provides B Cell Help through Interleukin-10 and Succinate

Investigators describe a CXCR5-CXCR3⁺ programmed death 1 (PD1)^hiCD4⁺ helper T cell population distinct from follicular helper T cells and expanded in both systemic lupus erythematosus blood and the tubulointerstitial areas of individuals with proliferative lupus nephritis. [Nat Med] Abstract

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Helper CD4 T Cells Expressing Granzyme B Cause Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Fragmentation in Astrocytes in an MHCII-Independent Manner

Helper T cells activated with superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin E expressed granzyme B but not perforin. Helper T cells released granzyme B upon contact with astrocytes and caused glial fibrillary acidic protein fragmentation in a caspase-dependent, MHCII-independent manner. [Glia] Abstract

Distinct Editing Functions of Natural HLA-DM Allotypes Impact Antigen Presentation and CD4⁺ T Cell Activation

Researchers defined the presence of DM allotypes in human populations covered by the 1000 Genomes Project and probed their activity. The functional properties of several allotypes were investigated and showed strong enhancement of peptide-induced T cell activation for a particular combination of DMA and DMB. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

IL-21 and Anti-CD40 Restore Bcl-2 Family Protein Imbalance In Vitro in Low-Survival CD27⁺ B Cells from CVID Patients

Scientists found increased basal levels of Bax and Bim in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) B cells that correlated with low viability and high caspase-3 activation only in CD27⁺ B cells, particularly in a subgroup of apoptosis-prone CVID patients with low peripheral B cell counts and high autoimmunity prevalence. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Changes in CD19⁺ B Cells from Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The authors identified DNA methylation changes associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) in CD19⁺ B-cells. They performed an epigenome-wide association analysis of DNA methylation in the CD19⁺ B-cells from 24 patients with relapsing-remitting MS on various treatments and 24 healthy controls using Illumina 450 K arrays. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Developmental Induction of Human T-Cell Responses against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus

Researchers showed that antifungal T-cell responses are vigorously initiated within the first years of life against lysates and peptides of C. albicans or A. fumigatus, presented by autologous monocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Eomesodermin Controls a Unique Differentiation Program in Human IL-10 and IFN-γ Co-Producing Regulatory T-Cells

Scientists report that Eomesodermin (Eomes) acted as a lineage‐defining transcription factor in human IFN-γ/IL-10 co-producing Tr1‐like cells. In vivo occurring Tr1‐like cells expressed Eomes, and were clearly distinct from all other CD4⁺ T‐cell subsets, including conventional cytotoxic CD4⁺ T cells. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Increased Expression of PD1 and CD39 on CD3⁺CD4⁺ Skin T‐Cells in the Elderly

The authors compared the lymphocyte phenotype in human skin from old and young healthy subjects. The results depicted a higher proportion of CD4⁺ and a lower proportion of CD8⁺ among CD3⁺ T‐cells, a decreased proportion of CD45RA⁺ naive T‐cells and an upregulation of the expression of CD39 and PD1 on CD3⁺CD4⁺ T‐cells in the skin of old subjects. [Exp Dermatol] Abstract

Effect of CTLA4-Ig (Abatacept) Treatment on T Cells and B Cells in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis

Investigators evaluated in vivo effects of abatacept on phenotypes of T and B cells in the circulation of myositis patients in a sub-study of the ARTEMIS trial. [Scand J Immunol] Abstract

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Effector and Regulatory B Cells in Immune-Mediated Kidney Disease

Regulatory B (Breg) cells attenuate inflammation and contribute to the maintenance of immune tolerance. Breg cells are numerically deficient and/or dysfunctional in several autoimmune diseases that can affect the kidneys, including systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, as well as in some groups of renal transplant recipients with alloimmune graft damage. [Nat Rev Nephrol] Abstract

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Vineti™ to Partner with Tessa Therapeutics™ to Advance and Scale Cancer Immunotherapies World-Wide

Vineti, Inc. announced a new partnership with Tessa Therapeutics to advance and scale personalized cell therapies for solid tumors in Asia and world-wide. [Vineti, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Research Highlights the UK’s Growing Industry and Infrastructure for Manufacturing Cell and Gene Therapies

New research indicates that the UK’s cell and gene therapy industry continues to strengthen, as private and government investment has led to an increase in manufacturing space and jobs in the sector within the past year. [Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult] Press Release

Biomedical Research Is Becoming More Open about Its Funding and Data

Biomedical research is shifting to become more open and transparent by providing increasing amounts of information about funding, conflicts of interest and data sharing in their publications, according to a survey of recent papers. [Nature News] Editorial

European Funders Detail Their Open-Access Plan

Plan S, the contentious plan that a group of European science funders hopes will end scholarly journals’ paywalls, has fleshed out its rules—and softened its tone a bit. In seven pages of implementation guidance released, the funders explain how their grantees can abide by Plan S rules come 2020, when it goes into effect. But some critics say the document—which is up for public discussion for the next two months—remains too restrictive. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Crashing the Boards: Neuroscientist Maureen Condic Brings a Different Voice to NSF Oversight Body

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will welcome the first cohort of members appointed by President Donald Trump to its oversight body, the National Science Board. Most of the seven fit the mold of senior academic leaders, prominent scientists, and corporate research managers who typically sit on the 24-member board. But Maureen Condic is somewhat different. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

A 100^th Birthday Wish: Uphold Academic Freedom in Dark Times

One hundred years ago this month, shortly after the guns of the First World War fell silent, a German-speaking Scottish lawyer-turned-politician sent an 80-page report to his prime minister. In it was an idea whose echo still shapes the way in which many nations fund research — an idea arguably as important to the soul of modern science as the secular state is to modern democracy. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Molecular Approaches to Vaccines and Immune Monitoring
February 10-14, 2019
Keystone, Colorado, United States

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NEW PhD Position: Cellular and Molecular Determinants of T Cell Responses to CMV Infection (Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Natural Killer Cells (The Scripps Research Institute)

Postdoctoral/Staff Scientist – Immune Recognition and Immune Tolerance (Boston Children’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immune Oncology (Lund University)

Junior Principal Investigator – Cancer Immunity (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics (Oslo University Hospital)

Associate Professor/Professor – Immunobioengineering, Regenerative Medicine or Computational Bioengineering (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Host Cell-Mediated Immunity (Temple University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Johns Hopkins University)

Tenure/Tenure Track Faculty Position – Immunology (Wayne State University)

PhD Position – Antigen Presentation and Immune Regulation (Erasmus MC)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (University of Nantes)

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

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