Human Immunology News Volume 7.07 | Feb 26 2019

TOP STORY

One-Step Generation of Modular CAR-T Cells with AAV-Cpf1

Scientists developed a system for efficient generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells with considerably enhanced features by streamlined genome engineering. [Nat Methods] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Human Fetal TNF-α-Cytokine-Producing CD4⁺ Effector Memory T Cells Promote Intestinal Development and Mediate Inflammation Early in Life

Investigators demonstrated that human fetal intestines predominantly contain tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)⁺CD4⁺CD69⁺ T effector memory cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of fetal intestinal CD4⁺ T cells showed a T helper 1 phenotype and expression of genes mediating epithelial growth and cell cycling. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Sodium Chloride Is an Ionic Checkpoint for Human T_H2 Cells and Shapes the Atopic Skin Microenvironment

Researchers demonstrated that sodium chloride potently promoted T helper 2 (T_H2) cell responses on multiple regulatory levels. Sodium chloride enhanced interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 production while suppressing interferon-γ production in memory T cells. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Allergen Immunotherapy Improves Defective Follicular Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

Scientists investigated the phenotype, function, and clinical relevance of follicular regulatory T cells in patients with allergic rhinitis. [J Allergy Clin Immunol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

CD8⁺ T Cells from Patients with Narcolepsy and Healthy Controls Recognize Hypocretin Neuron-Specific Antigens

The authors detected CD8⁺ T cells specific toward narcolepsy-relevant peptides presented primarily by narcolepsy type 1 (NT1)-associated HLA types in the blood of 20 patients with NT1 as well as in 52 healthy controls, using peptide-MHC-I multimers labeled with DNA barcodes. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Gut Microbiota-Dependent CCR9⁺CD4⁺ T Cells Are Altered in Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

Scientists analyzed human CD4⁺ memory T cells expressing the gut-homing chemokine receptor CCR9 and found a reduced frequency of CCR9⁺ memory T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis relative to healthy controls. [Brain] Full Article

Peripheral T Cell Cytotoxicity Predicts T Cell Function in the Tumor Microenvironment

The authors evaluated detailed immunological aspects in clinical specimens from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. They analyzed the immune profiles, T cell cytotoxicity, and TCR repertoire of peripheral blood, normal lung tissue, and tumor tissue from NSCLC patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Transcriptome-Wide Analysis of Filarial Extract-Primed Human Monocytes Reveal Changes in LPS-Induced PTX3 Expression Levels

Investigators examined the immunomodulatory capacity of extracts from the human pathogenic filaria Brugia malayi on human monocyte responses in a transcriptome-wide manner to identify associated pathways and diseases. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human Liver‐Derived CXCR6⁺ NK Cells Are Predominantly Educated through NKG2A and Show Reduced Cytokine Production

Scientists investigated the composition and function of hepatic killer‐cell Ig‐like receptor (KIR)-expressing NK cells. Matched PBMC and hepatic lymphocytes were isolated from 20 individuals undergoing liver surgery and subsequently phenotypically analyzed for expression of KIRs and markers for tissue residency using flow cytometry. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

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

Immunometabolism and Natural Killer Cell Responses

The authors describe the current understanding of mouse and human natural killer (NK) cell metabolism and the key signaling pathways that mediate metabolic responses in NK cells. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

Innate Lymphocytes-Lineage, Localization and Timing of Differentiation

Researchers shed light on the identities of innate lymphocytes through the lenses of cell lineage, localization, and timing of differentiation. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Role of ADAM17 as a Regulatory Checkpoint of CD16A in NK Cells and as a Potential Target for Cancer Immunotherapy

The role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase‐17 (ADAM17) in CD16A cleavage and as a regulatory checkpoint is discussed. Several studies have examined the effects of inhibiting ADAM17 or CD16A cleavage directly during NK cell engagement of Ab‐coated tumor cells, which resulted in strengthened Ab tethering, decreased tumor cell detachment, and enhanced CD16A signaling and cytokine production. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

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

Torque Announces Clinical Trial Collaboration with Merck

Torque announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Merck. [Torque Therapeutics] Press Release

Torque Initiates Phase I Clinical Trial of TRQ-1501 Deep IL-15 Primed T Cells in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphomas

Torque announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of TRQ-1501 Deep IL-15 Primed T cells in patients with selected relapsed or refractory solid tumors and lymphomas. [Torque Therapeutics] Press Release

Allogene Therapeutics Enters Lease to Build Manufacturing Facility to Develop and Commercialize Allogeneic CAR T (AlloCAR T™) Therapies

Allogene Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has entered into a lease agreement to develop a 118,000 square foot cell therapy manufacturing facility in Newark, California. [Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Open-Access Pioneer Randy Schekman on Plan S and Disrupting Scientific Publishing

Nobel laureate Randy Schekman shook up the publishing industry when he launched the open-access journal eLife in 2012. Armed with millions in funding from three of the world’s largest private biomedical charities — the Wellcome Trust, the Max Planck Society and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute — Schekman designed the journal to compete with publishing powerhouses such as Nature, Science and Cell. [Nature News] Editorial

Foreign Governments Want to Boost Their Biotech Industries — So They’re Setting Up Shop in Boston

Cities and states around the corner and around the country have angled for years to set themselves up as the next Kendall Square, hoping to import some of the magic of Boston’s biotech hub and its job-creating economic engine. Increasingly, foreign governments are pushing for the same. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Translational Malaria Research in Patients & Populations
June 30-July 5, 2019
Les Diablerets, Switzerland

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology (University of Maryland)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Innate Immunity (Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Autoimmune Diseases (Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason)

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)

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)

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.