Human Immunology News Volume 6.50 | Dec 18 2018

TOP STORY

Role of Der p 1-Specific B Cells in Immune Tolerance during 2-Year House Dust Mite-Specific Immunotherapy

B cells specific for Der p 1 were detected using fluorochrome-labeled allergen method. Frequency of IgA-, IgG1- and IgG4-switched Der p 1-specific B cells, plasmablasts and IL-10 and IL-1RA-producing regulatory B cells were investigated and correlated to clinical response to allergen-specific immunotherapy. [J Allergy Clin Immunol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

NK Cell Infiltrates and HLA Class I Expression in Primary HER2⁺ Breast Cancer Predict and Uncouple Pathological Response and Disease-Free Survival

The authors investigated the value of tumor-infiltrating NK cells and HLA class I tumor expression as biomarkers of response to neoadjuvant anti-HER2 antibody-based treatment in breast cancer. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Ruxolitinib in Combination with Prednisone and Nilotinib Exhibit Synergistic Effects in Human Cells Lines and Primary Cells from Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

In an attempt to improve the response and avoid the adverse effects of Ruxolitinib, scientists evaluated the combination of 17 drugs with ruxolitinib in ex vivo models of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with myelofibrosis and cell lines. [Haematologica] Abstract

ORAI1, STIM1/2, and RYR1 Shape Subsecond Ca²⁺ Microdomains upon T Cell Activation

Investigators identified a Ca²⁺ entry component involved in Ca²⁺ microdomain formation in both unstimulated and stimulated T cells. In unstimulated T cells, spontaneously generated small Ca²⁺ microdomains required ORAI1, STIM1, and STIM2. [Sci Signal] Abstract

The Noncoding RNA nc886 Regulates PKR Signaling and Cytokine Production in Human Cells

Using clonal human T cell lines, researchers found that nc886 expression was strictly required for IFN-γ and IL-2 expression and secretion after T cell activation but did not affect proliferation or activation-induced cell death. [J Immunol] Abstract

Extracellular Vesicles Are Associated with the Systemic Inflammation of Patients with Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis

Extracellular vesicles from seropositive patients were able to activate mononuclear phagocytes in vitro, and induced proinflammatory cytokines that were comparable to the inflammatory response observed at the systemic level in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients [Sci Rep] Full Article

1-Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Released by Prostate Cancer Cell Inhibit T Cell Proliferation and Function by Targeting SHP1/Cytochrome C Oxidoreductase/ROS Axis

Prostate cancer cell media was used to treat T cells, and its impact on T cell signaling was evaluated. The molecular mechanism was further verified in vivo using mouse models. The clinical significance was determined using IHC in human clinical specimens. [J Immunother Cancer] Full Article

Tumor-Derived Exosomal HMGB1 Fosters Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immune Evasion by Promoting TIM-1⁺ Regulatory B Cell Expansion

Flow cytometry analyses were performed to determine the levels, phenotypes and functions of TIM-1⁺ regulatory B cells in samples from 51 patients with human hepatocellular carcinoma. [J Immunother Cancer] Full Article

A Tetrameric Form of CD40 Ligand with Potent Biological Activities in Both Mouse and Human Primary B Cells

Secreted streptavidin-CD40 ligand exhibited > 25-fold stronger activities in inducing the survival, activation and proliferation of both mouse and human primary B cells than did an agonistic anti-mouse or anti-human CD40 antibody. [Mol Immunol] Full Article

Fingerprints of CD8⁺ T Cells on Human Pre-Plasma and Memory B Cells

The authors identified and characterized a rare population of human B cells, which surprisingly carried CD8AB on their surface. Existence of such cells was demonstrated both in tonsils and in human apheresis material. [PLoS One] Full Article

Mapping of γ/δ T Cells Reveals Vδ2⁺ T Cells Resistance to Senescence

Investigators showed that peripheral Vδ2⁺ phenotype, functional capacity and gene expression profile are specific when compared against all other αβ and γδ T cells in aging. [EBioMedicine] Full Article

Subscribe to our sister publications: Immunology of Infectious Disease News & Immune Regulation News.

Emerging Cellular Therapies for Cancer

Advances in T cell engineering, genetic editing, the selection of optimal lymphocytes, and cell manufacturing have the potential to broaden T cell-based therapies and foster new applications beyond oncology, in infectious diseases, organ transplantation, and autoimmunity. [Annu Rev Immunol] Abstract

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

Bellicum Reports Safety Results and Promising Activity of Its Controlled CAR-T Candidate BPX-601 in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported safety and promising activity of BPX-601 in Part 1 of a Phase I/II dose-escalation study in patients with advanced, metastatic pancreatic cancer expressing prostate stem cell antigen. [Press release from Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2018 European Society for Medical Oncology Immuno-Oncology Congress (ESMO-IO), Geneva] Press Release

Kineta Enters Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Pfizer to Develop New Cancer Immunotherapies

Kineta Immuno-Oncology, LLC announced that it has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to develop RIG-I agonist immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. [Kineta Immuno-Oncology, LLC (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

ASIT biotech Reaches Another Key Milestone by Finalizing the Industrialization Process for the Manufacture of Clinical Batches of Its hdm-ASIT+™ Product Candidate for House Dust Mite Allergy

ASIT biotech announced that it has finalized the industrialization process for the manufacture of clinical batches of its hdm-ASIT+™ product candidate. [ASIT biotech] Press Release

Universities ‘Held Hostage’ in Nicaragua’s Political Crisis

The repression has struck particularly hard at Nicaragua’s universities, where firings, arrests, and attacks on students have brought higher education and research to a virtual standstill. “The university system is being held hostage,” says María Luisa Acosta, a human rights lawyer and president of the Nicaraguan Academy of Sciences in Managua. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

What a Partial US-Government Shutdown Would Mean for Science

The clock is ticking for US lawmakers, who have fewer than four days — as of 18 December — to pass a new budget for many government agencies, or they will trigger a partial government shutdown. Nature explains why politicians are struggling to reach a deal, what is at stake for science and whether a crisis can be avoided. [Nature News] Editorial

Spain to Establish Parliamentary Office of Science

The decision follows a November meeting between parliamentarians and Science in the Parliament, a grassroots association of scientists and others with an interest in science, based in Madrid, that has campaigned for such a body. [Nature News] Editorial

Steep Funding Cuts for Australian Science Announced

Australia’s mid-year budget update, reveals that the country’s funding under so-called University Research Block Grants is to be slashed by $328.5 million AUD for the upcoming four years. The budget cuts are twice the amount Australian universities had expected. [The Scientist] Editorial

Tenured Biology Professor Sacked for Research Misconduct

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has fired former tenured biology professor, Fei Wang, after an investigation revealed he had falsified data on grant applications, The News-Gazette, reports. At a meeting on Friday (December 14), the university’s board of trustees made the final decision, effective immediately, to fire Wang. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW Defence is the Best Attack: Immuno-Oncology Breakthroughs
March 11-13, 2019
Barcelona, Spain

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

NEW Research Fellow – Mucosal Immunology (University of Edinburgh)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (University of California, San Francisco)

NEW Senior Postdoctoral Scientist/Deputy Group Leader – Immunology (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases)

NEW Junior Principal Investigator – Immunology (Foundation FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Assistant/Associate or Professor – Cancer Immunotherapy/Tumor Immunology (University of California, Irvine)

Supervisor – Transfusion Medicine – Immune, Progenitor, & Cell Therapy (Mayo Clinic)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Epidemiology/Data Science – Immunology, Inflammation and Aging (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases)

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

Postdoctoral/Staff Scientist – Immune Recognition and Immune Tolerance (Boston Children’s 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 Fellowship – Immunology (University of Nantes)

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Human Immunology News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.