Human Immunology News Volume 8.18 | May 12 2020

TOP STORY

High Systemic and Tumor-Associated IL-8 Correlates with Reduced Clinical Benefit of PD-L1 Blockade

Researchers analyzed circulating plasma interleukin-8 and IL8 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tumors of patients treated with atezolizumab from multiple randomized trials representing 1,445 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. [Nat Med] Abstract

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Immune Modulation by Complement Receptor 3-Dependent Human Monocyte TGF-β1-Transporting Vesicles

Investigators showed that human and mouse monocytes released TGF-β1-transporting vesicles in response to the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Soluble β-glucan from C. albicans bound to complement receptor 3 on monocytes and induced the release of TGF-β1-transporting vesicles. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Demographic and Genetic Factors Influence the Abundance of Infiltrating Immune Cells in Human Tissues

The authors found an association between helper T cell content in thyroid tissue and a COMMD3/DNAJC1 regulatory variant, which was associated with thyroiditis in other cohorts. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Combination Immunotherapy Induces Distinct T-Cell Repertoire Responses When Administered to Patients with Different Malignancies

Investigators used next-generation sequencing of T-cell receptors to compare the circulating T cells of melanoma and metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer patients receiving the same treatment with ipilimumab and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by Wilcoxon rank sum test. [J Immunother Cancer] Full Article

Tumor-Derived CSF2/Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor Controls Myeloid Cell Accumulation and Progression of Gliomas

The expression of colony stimulating factor (CSF)2 was determined in TCGA datasets and five human glioma cell lines. Effects of stable CSF2 knockdown in glioma cells or neutralising CSF2 or receptor CSF2Rα antibodies on glioma invasion were tested in vitro and in vivo. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Induce Regulatory T Cells via Epigenetic Conversion of Human Conventional CD4 T Cells In Vitro

Scientists performed a pre-clinical investigation on the potential of mesenchymal stromal cells to expand regulatory T cells in vitro to support future clinical trials. [Stem Cells] Full Article | Press Release

IL-7 Induces sCD127 Release and McD127 Downregulation in Human CD8+ T Cells by Distinct Yet Overlapping Mechanisms, Both of Which Are Impaired in HIV Infection

Researchers demonstrated in primary human CD8⁺ T cells that IL-7-induced downregulation of mCD127 expression was dependent on JAK and PI3K signaling, whereas IL-7-induced sCD127 release was also mediated by STAT5. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Predicting Worse Survival for Newly Diagnosed T Cell Lymphoma Based on the Decreased Baseline CD16^–/CD1⁺ Monocyte Ratio

Researchers prospectively recruited 31 T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients without previous treatment. The CD16⁻/CD16⁺ monocyte ratio before chemotherapy was calculated and regular follow up was performed to calculate prognostic prediction value. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Cardiogenic Shock Elicits Acute Inflammation, Delayed Eosinophilia, and Depletion of Immune Cells in Most Severe Cases

The authors prospectively measured, in 24 consecutive cardiogenic shock patients, differential white blood cell counts and the cytokines IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα, IFNγ, MCP-1 and eotaxin, at day one, day three and day six-eight. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Sindbis Virus with Anti-OX40 Overcomes the Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment of Low Immunogenic Tumors by Metabolically Rewiring Anti-Tumor Immune Responses

Scientists developed a practical and improved strategy for cancer immunotherapy using an oncolytic virus and anti-OX40. This strategy took advantage of a preexisting T cell immune repertoire in vivo removing the need to know about present tumor antigens. [Mol Ther Oncolytics] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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The Immune System in Cushing’s Syndrome

The authors summarize the available evidence on the immune system in chronic hypercortisolism, while describing the main mechanisms of immune derangement and their role in the increased mortality and morbidity seen in this complex disease. [Trends Endocrinol Metab] Abstract

Immune Modulation of Hair Follicle Regeneration

Investigators summarize key concepts behind immune-mediated hair regeneration, highlight gaps in the literature and discuss the therapeutic potential of exploiting this relationship for treating various immune-mediated alopecias. [NPJ Regen Med] Full Article

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Legend Biotech and Noile-Immune Biotech Announce Collaborative Research and Licensing Agreement

Legend Biotech Corporation announced that Legend and Noile-Immune Biotech, Inc. have entered into a license agreement whereby Legend will have the right to develop CAR-T and/or TCR-T cell therapies incorporating Noile-Immune’s PRIME technology secreting both IL-7 and CCL19. [Legend Biotech Corporation] Press Release

Genprex Enters into Exclusive Worldwide Patent and Technology License Agreement for Combination of its TUSC2 Gene Therapy with Immunotherapies

Genprex, Inc. announced that it has entered into a Patent and Technology License Agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in which MD Anderson granted to Genprex an exclusive worldwide license to a portfolio of 16 patent applications and related technology for the treatment of cancer using Genprex’s lead drug candidate and TUSC2 gene therapy, known as “Oncoprex” or “GEN-001,” in combination with immunotherapies. [Genprex, Inc.] Press Release

Triumvira Announces Grant of T Cell Antigen Coupler (TAC) Technology Patent by US Patent and Trademark Office

Triumvira Immunologics announced the issuance of key claims in US Patent No. 10640562 entitled “T cell-antigen coupler with various construct optimizations.” [Triumvira Immunologics (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Coronavirus Shut-Downs Pose Huge Threat to Australian Research Jobs

Research in Australia will face drastic cuts in funding and jobs as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shut-downs, according to a report by organizations representing the country’s researchers and academia. [Nature News] Editorial

Secretive Jasons to Offer Advice on How to Reopen Academic Labs Shut by Pandemic

A group of prominent academic scientists that has been advising the US government on security matters since the Cold War is conducting a quick-turnaround, pro bono study of a new threat to national security-the impact of COVID-19 on academic research. And this time it’s personal. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Research Assistant – Cellular and Humoral Immune Response (Caprion)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Oncolytic Virus (ViraTherapeutics GmbH)

Postdoctoral Researcher – DNA Break Repair and Recombination (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Ion Channels in Immunolgoy (New York Univeristy)

Scientist – Post-Injury Inflammation (Athersys, Inc.)

Senior Scientist – Oncology Biomarker Development (Genentech, Inc.)

Associate Professor – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati)

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)

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