Human Immunology News Volume 7.11 | Mar 26 2019

TOP STORY

Distinct Phenotype of CD4⁺ T Cells Driving Celiac Disease Identified in Multiple Autoimmune Conditions

Combining HLA-DQ-gluten tetramers with mass cytometry and RNA sequencing analysis, scientists found that gluten-specific CD4⁺ T cells in the blood and intestines of patients with celiac disease display a surprisingly rare phenotype. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Bone Marrow Central Memory and Memory Stem T-Cell Exhaustion in AML Patients Relapsing after HSCT

Researchers investigated the expression of inhibitory receptors on T cells infiltrating the bone marrow of 32 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients relapsing or maintaining complete remission after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). [Nat Commun] Full Article

ER Stress-Induced Mediator C/EBP Homologous Protein Thwarts Effector T Cell Activity in Tumors through T-Bet Repression

Investigators report that C/EBP homologous protein, a downstream sensor of severe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, was a major negative regulator of the effector function of tumor-reactive CD8⁺ T cells. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Gene Activation Precedes DNA Demethylation in Response to Infection in Human Dendritic Cells

The authors investigated the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of innate immune responses to bacterial infections. They found that virtually all changes in gene expression in response to infection occurred prior to detectable alterations in the methylome. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article

ACPAs Promote IL-1β Production in Rheumatoid Arthritis by Activating the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Researchers found that IL-1β levels were elevated in anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)⁺ rheumatoid arthritis patients and that ACPAs promoted IL-1β production by PBMC-derived macrophages. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Mitochondrial Fission-Induced mtDNA Stress Promotes Tumor-Associated Macrophage Infiltration and HCC Progression

Scientists investigated whether mitochondrial fission induces mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) stress and then promotes tumor-associated macrophage infiltration and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. [Oncogene] Full Article

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Enhance Tumor-Associated Macrophages Enrichment and Suppress NK Cells Function in Colorectal Cancer

Investigators showed that tumor-associated macrophages were enriched in colorectal cancer, and their infiltration was associated with VCAM-1 expression. Human colorectal cancer-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts could promote the adhesion of monocytes by up-regulating VCAM-1 expression in colorectal cancer cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Influence of a Single Hemodialysis Procedure on Human T Lymphocytes

Scientists evaluated percentages of T lymphocyte subpopulations ex vivo, plasma concentrations of IL12p70, TNF, IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8 cytokines and selected proliferation parameters of in vitro activated T lymphocytes in hemodialysis (HD) patients before and after single HD procedure using flow cytometry. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Extensive Epigenetic and Transcriptomic Variability between Genetically Identical Human B-Lymphoblastoid Cells with Implications in Pharmacogenomics Research

Researchers used flow cytometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and mRNA sequencing to study surface marker patterns, quantify genome-wide chromatin changes and transcriptome variability, respectively, among five isogenic lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the same individual. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Autoreactive B‐Lymphocytes in SLE and RA Patients: Isolation and Characterization Using Extractable Nuclear and Citrullinated Antigens Bound to Immunobeads

The authors purified extractable nuclear antigen‐specific and citrullinated peptide‐specific auto‐reactive B lymphocytes by magnetic selection with ENA‐ and citrullinated peptide‐bound immunobeads. They obtained blood auto‐reactive B lymphocytes from most patients. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Limited Differential Expression of miRNAs and Other Small RNAs in LPS-Stimulated Human Monocytes

Investigators used next-generation sequencing and RT-PCR assays to analyze the non-coding small RNA transcriptome of unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated monocytes at 6 and 24 hours. [PLoS One] Full Article

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

Navigating Metabolic Pathways to Enhance Antitumor Immunity and Immunotherapy

The authors discuss how metabolic circuits regulate antitumor immunity and the possible approaches to targeting these pathways in the context of anticancer immunotherapy. [Nat Rev Clin Oncol] Abstract

Targeting Natural Killer Cells in Solid Tumors

Researchers review the current knowledge on the presence and function of natural killer (NK) cells in solid tumors as well as the immunotherapeutic approaches designed to harness NK cell functions in these conditions, including those that aim to reinforce conventional anti-tumor therapies to increase the chances of successful treatment. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

NK Cell Recognition of Hematopoietic Cells by SLAM-SAP Families

Scientists review how two distinct signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) family of receptors (SFRs) signaling pathways orchestrate NK cell activation and inhibition and highlight the importance of SFR regulation of NK cell biology and their physiological status and pathological relevance in patients with XLP1. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

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

City of Hope Scientists Showcase New Findings

City of Hope will showcase ongoing studies and data on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, immunotherapy against solid tumors and more. [Press release from City of Hope (EurekAlert!) discussing research to be presented at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Atlanta] Press Release

Humanigen Data Demonstrates Potential to Improve the Efficacy of CAR-T Therapy

Humanigen, Inc. announced that data from the study entitled “GM-CSF Blockade during Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CART) Therapy Reduces Cytokine Release Syndrome and Neurotoxicity and may Enhance CART Effector Function” were presented. [Press release from Humanigen, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2019 NCCN Annual Conference: Improving the Quality, Effectiveness, & Efficiency of Cancer Care™, Orlando] Press Release

Study May Explain why Immunotherapy not Effective for Some Patients with Metastatic Melanoma and Kidney Cancer

White blood cells known as B cells have been shown to be effective for predicting which cancer patients will respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, according to a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. [Press release from MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing research to be presented at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Atlanta] Press Release

TCR² Therapeutics Announces Collaboration with Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult for the Manufacturing of Its Novel T Cell Therapies for Cancer

TCR² Therapeutics Inc. announced it has selected the advanced therapy medicinal products ecosystem in the United Kingdom to establish a site for global manufacturing systems and capabilities. [TCR² Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Oxford Biomedica Notes the Japanese Approval of Kymriah^® (Tisagenlecleucel), the First CAR-T Cell Therapy Authorised in Asia

Oxford Biomedica plc notes an announcement by Novartis that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved Kymriah^® for the treatment of two distinct indications – CD19-positive relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and CD19-positive r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. [Oxford Biomedica plc] Press Release

Duke University Settles Research Misconduct Lawsuit for $112.5 Million

Duke University will pay $112.5 million to the U.S. government to settle a lawsuit brought by a former employee who alleged that the university included falsified data in applications and reports for federal grants worth nearly $200 million. The university will also take several steps “to improve the quality and integrity of research conducted on campus,” including the creation of a new advisory panel that will provide recommendations to the president, the Durham, North Carolina, institution said in a statement. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Top US Institutes Still Aren’t Reporting Clinical-Trial Results on Time

Many leading US universities are breaking the law by failing to make public the results of clinical trials. A report found that 25 of the 40 universities that sponsor the most trials in the United States did not post study results on a public, government register within 12 months of completion, as is required by US law. [Nature News] Editorial

As Elsevier Falters, Wiley Succeeds in Open-Access Deal Making

Over the last few years, Project DEAL, a consortium that represents around 700 academic institutions in Germany, has been in negotiations for nationwide licensing agreements with three of the largest scholarly publishers—Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Wiley. [The Scientist] Editorial

NEW 13^th Vaccine Congress
September 15-18, 2019
Bangkok, Thailand

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

NEW Director of Research – Division of Translational Medicine & Human Genetics (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Single-Cell Immune Transcriptomics and Epigenomics (Karolinska Institutet)

Faculty Position – Immunology (Fox Chase Cancer Center)

Research Fellow – Protective and Aberrant Immunity (Monash University)

Computational Biologist – Aging (NIH National Institute on Aging)

Chief Scientific Officer – Immunology, Infection and Tissue Injury/ Repair (Weill Cornell Medical College)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Immunology (University of Maryland)

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

Staff Scientist – Immunology (Cellzome)

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

Postdoctoral Positions – Immunity (UT Southwestern Medical 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.