Human Immunology News Volume 7.05 | Feb 12 2019

TOP STORY

Neutrophils Escort Circulating Tumor Cells to Enable Cell Cycle Progression

Investigators isolated and characterized individual circulating tumor cell (CTC)-associated white blood cells (WBCs), as well as corresponding cancer cells within each CTC-WBC cluster, from patients with breast cancer and from mouse models. They used single-cell RNA sequencing to show that in the majority of these cases, CTCs were associated with neutrophils. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Proliferation Tracing with Single-Cell Mass Cytometry Optimizes Generation of Stem Cell Memory-Like T Cells

The authors built a map of cell state changes during naive T-cell expansion. By examining cell signaling on this map, they rationally selected ibrutinib, a BTK and ITK inhibitor, and administered it before T cell activation to direct differentiation toward a T stem cell memory-like phenotype. [Nat Biotechnol] Abstract

Distinct Immune Cell Populations Define Response to Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy and Anti-PD-1/Anti-CTLA-4 Combined Therapy

Researchers performed transcriptomic and immune profiling on 158 tumor biopsies from melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy or combined anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Lymphocyte Innateness Defined by Transcriptional States Reflects a Balance between Proliferation and Effector Functions

Unbiased transcriptomic analyses uncovered a continuous ‘innateness gradient’, with adaptive T cells at one end, followed by mucosal-associated invariant T, invariant natural killer T, γδ T and natural killer cells at the other end. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Costimulation of Type-2 Innate Lymphoid Cells by GITR Promotes Effector Function and Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes

Investigators showed that GITR, a member of the TNF superfamily, was expressed on both murine and human type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). They demonstrated that GITR engagement of activated, but not naïve, ILC2s improved glucose homeostasis, resulting in both protection against insulin resistance onset and amelioration of established insulin- resistance. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Specific Immune Cell and Lymphatic Vessel Signatures Identified by Image Analysis in Renal Cancer

Scientists applied tissue phenomics methods including image analysis for the standardized quantification of specific components and structures within the tumor microenvironment to profile tissue sections from 56 clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients. [Mod Pathol] Abstract

LncRNA H19 Overexpression Induces Bortezomib Resistance in Multiple Myeloma by Targeting MCL-1 via miR-29b-3p

Investigators explored the biological function of H19, interactions between the downstream target genes, and the effect of H19 on BTZ resistance of myeloma cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Decidual RANKL/RANK Interaction Promotes the Residence and Polarization of TGF-β1-Producing Regulatory γδ T Cells

The authors observed higher levels of receptor activator for nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL) on decidual stromal cells, and its receptor RANK on dγδΤ cells in decidua from normal pregnancy compared with patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Three Cell Deaths and a Funeral: Macrophage Clearance of Cells Undergoing Distinct Modes of Cell Death

Researchers established a model of three different cell deaths using the same cell line and the occurrence of distinct cell death modalities was verified by using the specific inhibitors, zVAD-fmk, necrostatin-1, and ferrostatin-1, respectively. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

Human Skeletal Muscle Macrophages Increase following Cycle Training and Are Associated with Adaptations that May Facilitate Growth

The authors determined whether endurance exercise training altered macrophage content and characteristics in response to resistance exercise, and whether macrophages were associated with other exercise adaptations. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human Macrophages Survive and Adopt Activated Genotypes in Living Zebrafish

Scientists determined that primary human monocytes and macrophages survive in zebrafish for up to two weeks. Flow cytometry revealed that human monocytes cultured at the physiological temperature of the zebrafish survive and differentiate comparable to cohorts cultured at human physiological temperature. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Macrophages in Heart Failure with Reduced versus Preserved Ejection Fraction

The authors discuss recent findings interrogating the role of macrophages in inflammation and its resolution in the context of heart failure (HF), with a specific focus on HF with reduced ejection fraction versus HF with preserved ejection fraction. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract

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

Neurotrope Announces Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for Bryostatin-1 with the National Cancer Institute

Neurotrope Inc. announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the National Cancer Institute for the research and clinical development of bryostatin-1. [Neurotrope Inc.] Press Release

Precigen Announces Clearance of IND to Initiate Phase I Study for First-in-Class PRGN-3005 UltraCAR-T™ to Treat Advanced Stage Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer Patients

Precigen, Inc. announced that the FDA has cleared the IND application for Precigen’s PRGN-3005, a first-in-class investigational therapy using autologous chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells to treat advanced-stage platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. [Precigen, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Expands Its Network to Include More Rising Stars in Cancer Immunotherapy

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy welcomed seven talented early career researchers in cancer immunotherapy to its network as part of the Parker Scholars, Parker Bridge Scholars and Parker Fellows programs. These researchers will receive a total of up to $3.1 million in funding and the opportunity to train with top scientists in the field, to support them as they embark on their research to move the field forward. [The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy] Press Release

UC Berkeley Team to Be Awarded CRISPR Patent

The University of California (UC), Berkeley, and its partners in developing CRISPR gene editing will receive the patent at the heart of an intellectual property dispute between the Berkeley team and the Broad Institute and its CRISPR collaborators. [The Scientist] Editorial

Violent Drug Cartels Stifle Mexican Science

Abandoned projects and delayed research have become common problems as security issues crop up across the country. [Nature News] Editorial

Europe’s Next €1-Billion Science Projects: Six Teams Make It to Final Round

The European Commission has selected six research projects — in areas from health and energy to artificial intelligence and cultural heritage — to compete to become one of its next billion-euro ‘flagship’ science initiatives, Nature has learned. [Nature News] Editorial

France Set to Get First National Strategy for Research

France is preparing to implement a national, multi-year research plan for the first time — a move warmly welcomed by the heads of the country’s major research agencies. [Nature News] Editorial

Ukraine’s Science Revolution Stumbles Five Years On

Ukraine’s science system is in a precarious state, despite promised improvements in the wake of a revolution five years ago that aligned the country with the European Union. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 2^nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT)
April 29-May 2, 2019
Washington, DC, United States

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

NEW Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Staff Scientist – Immunology (Cellzome)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor Immune Evasion (Luxembourg Institute of Health)

Postdoctoral Positions – Immunity (UT Southwestern Medical Center)

Junior or Senior Technician – Immunology and Cell Biology (VIB)

PhD Student Position – Immunology (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen)

Investigator Positions – Cancer Immunology (University of Alabama Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Position – Cytokine-Producing B Cells (Inserm)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Yonsei Cancer Center)

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

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