Human Immunology News Volume 7.37 | Sep 24 2019

TOP STORY

FPR1 Is the Plague Receptor on Host Immune Cells

N-formylpeptide receptor (FPR1) was a plague receptor on immune cells in both humans and mice, and its absence or mutation provided protection against Yersinia pestis. [Nature] Abstract

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Chromatin Activity at GWAS Loci Identifies T Cell States Driving Complex Immune Diseases

Scientists showed the role of immune-disease-associated variants in early rather than late activation of memory CD4⁺ T cells, with modest differences across cytokines. Variants associated with inflammatory bowel disease were enriched in type 1 T helper cells, whereas variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease were enriched in different macrophage cell states. [Nat Genet] Abstract

Therapeutic Modulation of the Immune Response in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

To define the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), the authors characterized NFκB signaling in ACM models in vitro and in vivo, and in cardiac myocytes from patient induced pluripotent stem cells. [Circulation] Abstract

Potent Antibody Lineage against Malaria Transmission Elicited by Human Vaccination with Pfs25

Researchers present molecular analyses of human antibody responses generated in a clinical trial evaluating Pfs25 vaccination. [Nat Commun] Full Article

RAF Kinases Are Stabilized and Required for Dendritic Cell Differentiation and Function

Scientists demonstrated that RAF kinases were active and stabilized at their protein levels during dendritic cell (DC) differentiation. Inhibition of RAF kinases but not MEK1/2 impaired the activation of DCs in both mice and human. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

The Mechanism of the Premetastatic Niche Facilitating Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis Generated from Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Induced by the S1PR1-STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Increased CD14⁺HLA-DR^−/low myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) from colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients inhibited autologous T-cell proliferation and predicted poor prognosis. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Bronchoalveolar Lavage Gene Expression Signature in Latent Tuberculosis Infection Is Dominated by Pleiotropic Effects of CD4⁺ T Cell-Dependent IFN-γ Production despite the Presence of Polyfunctional T Cells within the Airways

Investigators evaluated global M. tuberculosis-induced gene expression in airway immune cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection and M. tuberculosis-naive controls. [J Immunol] Abstract

Effects of Fludioxonil on the Cell Growth and Apoptosis in T and B Lymphocytes

Fludioxonil induced immunotoxicity in human T cells and B cells through apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. [Biomolecules] Abstract

West Nile Virus Infection Blocks Inflammatory Response and T Cell Costimulatory Capacity of Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

The authors demonstrated that human monocyte derived dendritic cells supported productive viral replication following infection with a pathogenic strain of West Nile virus. [J Virol] Abstract

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Genetically Engineered T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

Scientists summarize the development of genetically engineered T cells, outline the most recent studies investigating genetically engineered T cells for cancer immunotherapy, and discuss strategies for improving the performance of these T cells in fighting cancers. [Signal Transduct Target Ther] Full Article

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

Rigel’s fostamatinib Enters Phase III Clinical Trial in Japan with Kissei Pharmaceuticals for the Treatment of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its collaboration partner, Kissei Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., has initiated a Phase III trial in Japan of fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate in adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. [Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

City of Hope Opens Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Trial for Advanced Prostate Cancer

City of Hope has opened and is treating the first patients in its CAR T cell trial for prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. The trial uses a CAR T cell – also developed at City of Hope – that targets the prostate stem cell antigen in prostate cancer. [City of Hope] Press Release

CARsgen Announces Investigational CAR-T Therapy CT053 Granted PRIME Eligibility by the European Medicines Agency

CARsgen Therapeutics Inc. announced the European Medicines Agency has granted PRIority MEdicines (PRIME) eligibility to its investigational CAR-T cell therapy fully human anti-B Cell Maturation Antigen autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T Cells for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. [CARsgen Therapeutics Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Genentech’s Gazyva (Obinutuzumab) in Lupus Nephritis

Genentech announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Gazyva^® for adults with lupus nephritis. [Genentech] Press Release

Tarsius Pharma Announces FDA Acceptance of IND Application for TRS01

Tarsius Pharma announced the acceptance of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for TRS01 by the FDA. The company is developing TRS, a breakthrough, bio-inspired platform technology for the treatment of blinding ocular diseases. [Tarsius Pharma (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Grad Student Unions Dealt Blow as Proposed New Rule Says Students Aren’t ‘Employees’

Graduate students are not “employees” with a right to unionize, according to a rule proposed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an agency that’s tasked with enforcing US labor laws. If implemented, the rule would undercut a recent wave of grad student unionization efforts at private US universities. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Senate Bill Would Give NIH $3 Billion in 2020, or 7.7% Boost

A Senate spending panel released a draft 2020 spending bill containing a hefty $3 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that would bring the agency’s total budget to $42.1 billion. That 7.7% boost is $1 billion more than a House of Representatives committee approved in its version of the bill in April, and would amount to a 40% increase in NIH’s budget over the past five years. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 9^th International Conference on Autoimmunity: Mechanisms and Novel Treatments
October 12-17, 2019
Chania, Greece

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

NEW Senior Associate Scientist – Molecular and Cellular Neuroimmunology (Amgen)

Research Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Human Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Immune Cell Culture (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Resarch Technician – Immune Cells (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Human Immunology (University of Gothenburg)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology and Immunology (Columbia University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Autoimmune Diseases (Benaroya Research Institute)

Senior Scientific Researcher – Inflammatory Diseases (Genentech, Inc.)

Research Assistant – Immunology (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology of Enteric Infections (University of Utah)

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