Immune Regulation News Volume 3.26 | Jul 22 2011

Skin Sentry Cells Promote Distinct Immune Responses
Researchers discovered that direct presentation of antigen by one type of dendritic cell, Langerhans cells, was necessary and sufficient for the generation of antigen-specific T helper-17 cells but not the generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in Immunity]

Tumor Suppressor Protein Is a Key Regulator of Immune Response and Balance
Researchers demonstrated the protein, Tsc1, is pivotal for maintaining a balanced immune system and combating infections. [Press release from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discussing online prepublication in Nature Immunology]

Discovery of an Unexpected Actor in Vaccination: Our Own DNA
Investigators suggest that when a vaccine containing alum is injected, contact with alum pushes certain cells of the body to release their own DNA. The presence of this DNA outside the cells thus acts as a stimulant of the immune system and strongly boosts the response to the vaccine. [Press release from the Université de Liège discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine]

Control of T_H17 Cells Occurs in the Small Intestine
Here, by using a model of tolerance induced by CD3-specific antibody, a model of sepsis and influenza A viral infection, scientists show that pro-inflammatory T helper-17 (T_H17) cells can be redirected to and controlled in the small intestine. [Nature]

The Tumor Suppressor Tsc1 Enforces Quiescence of Naive T Cells to Promote Immune Homeostasis and Function
Researchers report that the tumor suppressor Tsc1 established a quiescence program in naive T cells by controlling cell size, cell cycle entry and responses to stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor. [Nat Immunol]

DNA Released from Dying Host Cells Mediates Aluminum Adjuvant Activity
Here researchers report that, in mice, aluminum-based adjuvants (alum) causes cell death and the subsequent release of host cell DNA, which acts as a potent endogenous immunostimulatory signal mediating alum adjuvant activity. [Nat Med]

Protective HIV-Specific CD8⁺ T Cells Evade T_reg Cell Suppression
Here investigators show that CD8⁺ T cells restricted by ‘protective’ human leukocyte antigen allele groups are not suppressed by regulatory T (T_reg) cells, whereas, within the same individual, T cells restricted by ‘nonprotective’ alleles are highly suppressed ex vivo. [Nat Med]

Skin-Resident Murine Dendritic Cell Subsets Promote Distinct and Opposing Antigen-Specific T Helper Cell Responses
Using a Candida albicans skin infection model, researchers have shown that direct presentation of antigen by Langerhans cells is necessary and sufficient for the generation of antigen-specific T helper-17 cells but not for the generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes. [Immunity]

Suppression of the Immune Response to FVIII in Hemophilia A Mice by Transgene Modified Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells
In this study, researchers generated tolerogenic dendritic cells from hemophilia A mice and modified them with a foamy virus vector expressing a bioengineered human factor VIII (hFVIII) transgene. [Mol Ther]

Oral Macrophage-Like Cells Play a Key Role in Tolerance Induction Following Sublingual Immunotherapy of Asthmatic Mice
Herein, researchers investigated the key subset(s) of antigen-presenting cells involved in antigen/allergen capture and tolerance induction during sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy. [Mucosal Immunol]

Efficient Induction of CD25^– iTreg by Co-Immunization Requires Strongly Antigenic Epitopes for T Cells
In the present study, researchers demonstrated the requirement of highly antigenic epitopes for antigen-specific CD4⁺CD25^–Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cell (CD25^– iTreg) induction. [BMC Immunol]

GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences Receive European Authorization for Benlysta (Belimumab)
GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for BENLYSTA® (belimumab) 10mg/kg as an add-on therapy in adult patients with active autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus, with a high degree of disease activity, despite standard therapy. [Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Press Release]

The Iacocca Family Foundation Boosts Investment in Kineta’s Autoimmune Program
Kineta, Inc. joined with The Iacocca Family Foundation to announce second year funding for its investment partnership aimed at speeding development of Kineta’s preclinical autoimmune drug candidate – ShK-186 – with applications for type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. [Kineta, Inc. Press Release]

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Demonstrates Positive Immune Responses in Phase I Clinical Trial of SynCon™ H5N1 Influenza Vaccine and Launches Multi-Subtype Influenza Vaccine Phase I
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that significant T cell and antibody responses were generated in its Phase I clinical study of VGX-3400X, a SynCon™ DNA vaccine for the prevention of avian H5N1 influenza delivered using intramuscular electroporation. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

Vical and Astellas Announce Worldwide License Agreements for TransVax™ Cytomegalovirus Vaccine
Vical Incorporated and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that they have signed exclusive license agreements for the United States and for all territories in the rest of world outside the United States to develop and commercialize TransVax™, Vical’s therapeutic vaccine designed to control cytomegalovirus reactivation in transplant recipients. [Vical Inc. Press Release]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW National Marrow Donor Program Council Meeting
November 3-5, 2011
Minneapolis, United States

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