Human Immunology News Volume 8.11 | Mar 24 2020

TOP STORY

Tuning the Antigen Density Requirement for CAR T Cell Activity

Investigators demonstrated that CD19 CAR activity was dependent upon antigen density and the CAR construct in axicabtagene-ciloleucel outperformed that in tisagenlecleucel against antigen low tumors. [Cancer Discov] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Dominant-Negative Mutations in Human IL6ST Underlie Hyper-IgE Syndrome

Scientists report twelve patients from eight unrelated kindreds with autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome due to dominant-negative IL6ST mutations. They identified seven different truncating mutations, one of which was recurrent. [J Exp Med] Abstract

Ectonucleotidase CD39 Is Highly Expressed on ATLL Cells and Is Responsible for Their Immunosuppressive Function

Researchers detected CD39 expression on adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) cells, particularly frequent on aggressive subtypes. CD39 and CD73 converted extracellular adenosine triphosphate into adenosine, a key player in Tregs’ immunosuppression. [Leukemia] Full Article

CAR T-Cells that Target Acute B-Lineage Leukemia Irrespective of CD19 Expression

The authors report that CD19^– escape was associated with downregulation, but preservation, of targetable expression of CD20 and CD22. They reasoned that broadening the spectrum of CD19CAR T-cells to include both CD20 and CD22 would enable them to target CD19^– escape B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia while preserving their upfront efficacy. [Leukemia] Full Article

The Prognostic Significance of Immune Microenvironment in Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

A well characterised breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cohort with long-term follow-up comprising pure DCIS and DCIS mixed with invasive carcinoma were stained immunohistochemically for CD20, CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3, PD1 and PDL1. Copy number variation and TP53 mutation status were assessed in a subset of cases. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Identification and Validation of an Immunogenic Subtype of Gastric Cancer with Abundant Intratumoral CD103⁺CD8⁺ T Cells Conferring Favorable Prognosis

Gastric cancer tissues from Zhongshan Hospital and data from Gene Expression Omnibus were obtained and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to detect the number and phenotypical characteristics of CD103⁺CD8⁺ T cells. [Br J Cancer] Full Article

Regulatory B Cells Are Decreased and Impaired in Their Function in Peripheral Maternal Blood in Pre-Term Birth

The authors investigated the frequency of B regulatory cells (Breg) cells in peripheral blood of women undergoing pre-term birth and control women immediately before giving birth via cesarean section. They detected an enhanced number of B cells, but a reduced number of Breg cells in women delivering preterm. [Front Immunol] Full Article

Lysophosphatidylcholines Inhibit Human Eosinophil Activation and Suppress Eosinophil Migration In Vivo

Addition of saturated lysophosphatidylcholines in the presence of albumin rapidly disrupted cholesterol-rich nanodomains on eosinophil cell membranes and suppressed multiple eosinophil effector responses, such as CD11b upregulation, degranulation, chemotaxis, and downstream signaling. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors (KIR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen-C (HLA-C) Allorecognition Patterns in Women with Endometriosis

Scientists investigated an association between HLA (HLA)-C genotype and KIR polymorphism and the occurrence of endometriosis. They tested the association of certain KIR and HLA-C combinations and the development of endometriosis by characterizing both KIR and HLA-C genes in 147 women with endometriosis and 117 controls. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Dynamic Changes of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Its Association with Clinical Outcomes

Investigators characterized the innate lymphoid cells present in peripheral blood of 176 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients and 52 controls. Patients were followed up for up to 23 months. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Non-Invasive Reporter Gene Imaging of Cell Therapies, Including T-Cells and Stem Cells

The authors explain how in vivo imaging can aid the development and clinical translation of cell-based therapeutics. They describe the underlying principles governing non-invasive in vivo long-term cell tracking in the preclinical and clinical settings including available imaging technologies, reporter genes and imaging agents as well as pitfalls related to experimental design. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

The Expanding Landscape of Inflammatory Cells Affecting Cancer Therapy

Investigators outline the current map of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells populations in cancer and their known and presumed functions, and discuss their therapeutic implications and the biological research questions that they give rise to. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract

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

Dragonfly Therapeutics Announces Multi-Target Expansion of Its Collaboration with Merck to Use Dragonfly’s Proprietary TriNKET™ Platform to Develop Novel Therapeutic Candidates in the Fields of Oncology, Infectious Disease, and Immune Disorders

Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. announced an expansion of its strategic collaboration with Merck to discover, develop and commercialize a number of Dragonfly’s candidate natural killer cell engager immunotherapies for oncology, infectious disease, and immune disorders. [Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC)] Press Release

NantKwest Doses First Patient in Phase II Single-Arm Trial of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Therapy with Off-the-Shelf CD16 Natural Killer Cells

NantKwest, Inc. announced dosing of the first patient in a Phase II trial for second- and third-line Merkel cell carcinoma in patients who are refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitors. [NantKwest, Inc.] Press Release

Researchers Are Tracking Another Epidemic, Too—of Misinformation

When five researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, launched the new Center for an Informed Public back in December 2019, they had no idea what was coming. The center aims to study how misinformation propagates and use the findings to “promote an informed society, and strengthen democratic discourse. Now, just a few months later, the coronavirus pandemic is generating a tidal wave of information—some of it accurate, some not so much—that has saturated social and traditional media. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

After Conference Cancellations, Some Scientists Find a Way

As scores of academic meetings get upended due to COVID-19, researchers are turning to virtual replacements. [The Scientist] Editorial

Amid Coronavirus Shutdowns, Some Grad Students Feel Pressure to Report to Their Labs

As the coronavirus outbreak roils university campuses across the world, early-career scientists are facing several dilemmas. Many are worrying about the survival of cell cultures, laboratory animals, and other projects critical to their career success. And some are reporting feeling unwelcome pressure to report to their laboratories. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Scientist – Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Genentech, Inc.)

Co-Director – Anti-Cancer Immune Response (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Research Fellow – Mucosal Immunology (University of Michigan)

Faculty Member – Neuro-Oncology (Wake Forest School of Medicine)

Postoctoral Scientist – Molecular and Cellular Immunology (Technical University of Munich)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Adoptive T-Cell Therapies (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Researchers – B Lymphocyte Regulation (NIH National Institute on Aging)

Research Fellow – Angiogenesis in Immune Regulation and Homing (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Plasma Cell Development (Western Michigan University)

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