Immune Regulation News Volume 2.29 | Aug 6 2010

New Drug Target for Immune Diseases Discovered 
Researchers have found a new mechanism that explains how certain immune cells are activated to create protective antibodies against infections or pathological antibodies such as those present in autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.[Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in Nature Immunology]

		Minimize Sample Handling. Maximize Results. RoboSep®, the Fully Automated Cell Separator
		BOOK A DEMO

Video – EasySep®Pour-off – A Simple and Effective Way to Isolate Cells

Alphavirus-Based Vaccine May Slow Some Cancers
An experimental vaccine based on a virus that causes encephalitis in the wild appears to block tumor growth in some cases of advanced cancer. Scientists say the vaccine is able to stimulate an immune response, even in the face of profound immune system suppression. [Press release from Duke University Medical Center discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]

New Insight into Role of T Cells in HIV Infections Increases Understanding of Immune System
Researchers have discovered a possible new mechanism by which sooty mangabeys, a natural host of simian immunodeficiency virus, avoid developing AIDS despite having very high viral loads. Sooty mangabeys are able to maintain levels of CD4+ T cells by regenerating more rapidly their pool of naive CD4+ T cells. [Press release from the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University discussing online prepublication in Blood]

University of Rochester Discovers New Way to Boost Vaccines, Seeks Patent
A researcher found that the same molecules used in drugs that treat diabetes also stimulate B cells in the immune system, pushing them to make antibodies for protection against invading microorganisms. [University of Rochester Medical Center Press Release]

The Transmembrane Activator TACI Triggers Immunoglobulin Class Switching by Activating B Cells Through the Adaptor MyD88
Researchers found that the cytoplasmic domain of TACI encompasses a conserved motif that bound MyD88, an adaptor that activates transcription factor NF-kappaB signaling pathways via a Toll-interleukin 1 receptor domain. [Nat Immunol]

The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacts with c-Maf to Promote the Differentiation of Type 1 Regulatory T Cells Induced by IL-27
Researchers show that the ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which was induced by IL-27, acted in synergy with c-Maf to promote the development of type 1 regulatory T cells. [Nat Immunol]

Activation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Induces Human Type 1 Regulatory T Cell-Like and Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells
Researchers found that aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation promoted the differentiation of CD4+Foxp3- T cells, which produce IL-10 and control responder T cells through granzyme B. [Nat Immunol]

Follicular Helper T Cell Differentiation Requires Continuous Antigen (Ag) Presentation that Is Independent of Unique B Cell Signaling
Researchers concluded that although Ag presentation by responding B cells is typically required for the generation of T follicular helper cells, this does not result from the provision of a unique B cell-derived signal, but rather because responding B cells rapidly become the primary source of antigen. [Immunity ]

Follicular B Cell Trafficking Within the Spleen Actively Restricts Humoral Immune Responses
Researchers demonstrate that in wild-type animals, naive follicular B cells are actively removed from the marginal zone, thus restricting their capacity to respond to blood-borne pathogens. [Immunity]

An Alphavirus Vector Overcomes the Presence of Neutralizing Antibodies and Elevated Numbers of Tregs to Induce Immune Responses in Humans with Advanced Cancer
Data suggest that virus-like replicon particle-based vectors can overcome the presence of neutralizing antibodies to break tolerance to self antigen and may be clinically useful for immunotherapy in the setting of tumor-induced immunosuppression. [ J Clin Invest]

Lineage-Specific T Cell Reconstitution Following In Vivo CD4+ and CD8+ Lymphocyte Depletion in Nonhuman Primates
While this study revealed subtle differences in CD4+ T cell repopulation in an AIDS-sensitive versus an AIDS-resistant species, such differences may have particular relevance in the presence of active simian immunodeficiency virus replication, where CD4+ T cell destruction is chronic. [Blood]

siRNA Silencing of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on Dendritic Cells Augments Expansion and Function of Minor Histocompatibility Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cells
Data demonstrate that PD-L siRNA electroporated dendritic cells (DC) are highly effective in enhancing T cell proliferation and cytokine production, and therefore attractive cells for improving the efficacy of DC vaccines in cancer patients. [Blood]

T Cell Regulation by Casitas B-Lineage Lymphoma (Cblb) Is a Critical Failsafe Against Autoimmune Disease Due to Autoimmune Regulator (Aire) Deficiency
Intrinsic regulation of peripheral T cells by CBL-B serves a uniquely critical role as a failsafe against clinical onset of autoimmune disease in AIRE deficiency, and multiple peripheral tolerance mechanisms may need to fail before onset of clinical autoimmunity to many organs. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

CX₃CR1+ CD8Alpha+ Dendritic Cells Are a Steady-State Population Related to Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Researchers describe a subset of CD8alpha+ dendritic cells in lymphoid organs of naive mice characterized by expression of the CX₃CR1 chemokine receptor. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

GlaxoSmithKline and Amplimmune Form Global Strategic Collaboration
Amplimmune, Inc. announced that it has entered into a broad strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to further develop PD-1 targeting therapies that may be effective in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. GSK will obtain exclusive worldwide rights to AMP-224 as well as other potential next generation fusion proteins that target PD-1. [Amplimmune, Inc. Press Release]

Seattle Genetics Expands Antibody-Drug Conjugate Collaboration with Genentech
Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced that it has expanded its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration agreement with Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group. Under the expanded agreement, Genentech will pay an upfront fee of $12 million for rights to utilize Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology with additional antigens to be named by Genentech. [Seattle Genetics, Inc. Press Release]

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® and Shape Pharmaceuticals Partner to Advance Clinical Development of Novel, Topical Therapy for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Shape Pharmaceuticals announced that they have entered into a partnership to advance Shape’s novel topical treatment for cutaneous T Cell lymphoma into clinical development.  [The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Press Release]

Idera Pharmaceuticals to Raise $15 Million in Registered Direct Offering
Idera Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received commitments from certain institutional investors to purchase approximately $15 million of securities in a registered direct offering. [Idera Pharmaceuticals Press Release]

British Companies to Receive Support to Develop New Regenerative Medicine Products and Technologies
The government-backed Technology Strategy Board is to invest over £5 million to support the research and development in the UK of new regenerative medicine products, tools and technologies. 16 research and development projects in the field of regenerative medicine therapeutics are to receive a total of £3.6 million of investment, while a further £1.6 million is to be invested in 12 feasibility studies in the area of regenerative medicine tools and technologies. [Technology Strategy Board Press Release]

DiaMedica Announces Autoimmune Program with Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis Results
DiaMedica Inc. announced the initiation of the Company’s autoimmune program with the success of DM-99 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. [DiaMedica Inc. Press Release]

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) Files for Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for Pixantrone in Relapsed or Refractory Aggressive B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced it has filed for a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the design of its new Phase III trial of pixantrone for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-Cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. [Cell Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

Tolerx Appoints Antonin de Fougerolles, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer
Tolerx, Inc. announced the appointment of Antonin (Tony) de Fougerolles, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer. [Tolerx, Inc. Press Release]

Free Access to U.S. Research Papers Could Yield $1 Billion in Benefits
A new economic analysis finds that making taxpayer-funded scientific papers freely available would yield more than $1 billion in benefits to the U.S. economy over 30 years–five times the costs of archiving the papers. [ScienceInsider]

NSF Funding Request Faring Well in Congress
While the 2011 budget requests of other U.S. research agencies are struggling to stay afloat in choppy fiscal seas, so far National Science Foundation’s (NSF) is sailing through Congress largely intact. [National Science Foundation, United States]

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Public Meeting
The Food and Drug Administration announced a 2-day public meeting to obtain input on issues and challenges associated with the development and implementation of risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for drugs. An archived webcast of the meeting is available. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

MHRA Business Plan 2010 and Corporate Plan 2010-15 Published
The MHRA gained ministerial agreement for the Agency’s Business Plan 2010 and the Corporate Plan 2010-15. [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

Request for Proposals (RFP): NIA Intervention Testing Program Solicits Proposals for Compounds to Test for Anti-Aging Activity in Mice (NOT-AG-10-008) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Request for Information (RFI): Ideas for Improvements in a Research Network to Advance the Treatment Science of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Lung Injury (NOT-HL-11-113) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Correction of Major Programmatic Priorities for RFA-HL-11-025 (R01); “New Strategies for Growing 3D Tissues” (NOT-HL-11-115) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Guidance for Industry and Researchers on the Radioactive Drug Research Committee: Human Research Without an Investigational New Drug Application; Availability [Docket No. FDA-2009-D-0125] [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

CHI’s 5th Annual Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Summit (ImVacS)
August 17-19, 2010
Cambridge, United States

14th International Congress of Immunology
August 22-27, 2010
Kobe, Japan

Select Biosciences 3rd Annual Stem Cells Europe Conference
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Select Biosciences Inaugural Cellular Therapy Summit
August 24-25, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland

Select Biosciences 7th Annual RNAi & miRNA Europe
September 14-15, 2010
Dublin, Ireland

Immunology & Microbiology, Genetics & Genomics, Development, Other
September 18-22, 2010
Barcelona, Spain

Cell Symposia: Inflammation and Disease
September 26-28, 2010
Lisbon, Portugal

11th International Symposium on Dendritic Cells in Fundamental and Clinical Immunology – DC2010: Forum on Vaccine Science
September 26-30, 2010
Lugano, Switzerland

5th International Conference on Gene Regulation in Lymphocyte Development
October 9-14, 2010
Chania, Greece

Autumn Immunology Conference 2010
November 19-22, 2010
Chicago, United States

Cell Symposia: Influenza – Translating Basic Insights
December 2-4, 2010
Washington, D.C., United States

Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Recruit Top Talent
Reach more than 11,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities with Cell Therapy News.

Visit here to post your career opportunities.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Immune Regulation News? Click here to submit!

Comments or Suggestions? Email info@connexoncreative.com with your feedback.