Immune Regulation News Volume 3.34 | Sep 16 2011

Functional Innervation of Hepatic iNKT Cells Is Immunosuppressive Following Stroke
Selective immunomodulation of invariant NKT (iNKT) cells with a specific activator (α-galactosylceramide) promoted proinflammatory cytokine production and prevented infections post-stroke. [Science] Abstract

Acetylcholine-Synthesizing T Cells Relay Neural Signals in a Vagus Nerve Circuit
Researchers identified an acetylcholine-producing, memory phenotype T cell population in mice that is integral to the inflammatory reflex. [Science] Abstract

Notch Signaling Is Necessary for Adult, but not Fetal, Development of RORγt+ Innate Lymphoid Cells
Here researchers identify the chemokine receptor CXCR6 as an additional marker of the development of innate lymphoid cells and show that common lymphoid progenitors lost B cell and T cell potential as they successively acquired expression of the integrin α₄β₇ and CXCR6. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Human IL-25- and IL-33-Responsive Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Defined by Expression of CRTH2 and CD161
The data identify a unique type of human innate lymphoid cells that provides an innate source of T helper type 2 cytokines. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

An Essential Role of the Transcription Factor GATA-3 for the Function of Regulatory T Cells
Here, researchers have demonstrated an essential role for the transcription factor GATA-3 in controlling regulatory T cell function. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release

Remodeling of Cortical Actin Where Lytic Granules Dock at Natural Killer Cell Immune Synapses Revealed by Super-Resolution Microscopy
Here researchers used two high-resolution imaging techniques to probe the synaptic organization of natural killer cell receptors and filamentous (F)-actin. [PLoS Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Natural Killer Cell Lytic Granule Secretion Occurs Through a Pervasive Actin Network at the Immune Synapse
The data support a model whereby lytic granules and the actin network are intimately associated during the secretion process and broadly suggest a mechanism for the secretion of large organelles in the context of a cortical actin barrier. [PLoS Biol] Abstract | Press Release

Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Simultaneously Targeting Multiple Tumor-Associated Antigens to Treat EBV Negative Lymphoma
Researchers describe an approach that allows them to consistently generate, in a single line, cytotoxic T lymphocytes that recognize a wide spectrum of nonviral tumor-associated antigens expressed by human HL/NHL, including Survivin, MAGE-A4, Synovial sarcoma X, preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma and NY-ESO-1. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Wnt5a Skews Dendritic Cell Differentiation to an Unconventional Phenotype with Tolerogenic Features
The results show that the increase in Wnt5a signaling during the differentiation of human dendritic cells from monocytes alters their phenotype and compromises their subsequent capacity to mature in response to TLR-dependent stimuli. [J Immunol] Abstract

Insights into HLA-Restricted T Cell Responses in a Novel Mouse Model of Dengue Virus Infection Point Toward New Implications for Vaccine Design
The results provide new insights into HLA-restricted T cell responses against dengue virus, and researchers describe in this study a novel murine model that allows the investigation of T cell-mediated immune mechanisms relevant to vaccine design. [J Immunol] Abstract

Retinal Self-Antigen Induces a Predominantly Th1 Effector Response in Axl and Mertk Double-Knockout Mice
To study the molecular mechanism underlying the TAM regulation of APC functions and subsequent effects on the induction of an autoimmune response against the eye, researchers examined CD4 T cell differentiation following retinal self-antigen immunization. [J Immunol] Abstract

Compugen Announces Validation of Two Immune System Modulating Drug Candidates
Speaking at the Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference in New York City, Martin Gerstel, chairman of Compugen Ltd., reviewed the current status of the Company and announced the validation of two therapeutic product candidates, CGEN-15021 and CGEN-15091, in various autoimmune disease animal models. [Compugen Ltd.] Press Release

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Completes PENNVAX™-B HIV Vaccine Phase I Study, Demonstrates Best-in-Class T-Cell Immune Responses
Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has achieved best-in-class immune responses in a Phase I clinical study of PENNVAX™-B, its product for the prevention of the HIV sub-type prevalent in the US and Europe. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Seattle Genetics and Oxford BioTherapeutics to Collaborate on Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Cancer
Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Oxford BioTherapeutics announced that they have formed a strategic collaboration to jointly discover novel antibody-drug conjugates for cancer. [Seattle Genetics, Inc.] Press Release

MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone in Cancer Antibody Program with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals
MorphoSys AG announced that Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has reached the next milestone by initiating a Phase I clinical trial with the HuCAL-derived antibody-drug conjugate BAY 94-9343 in the therapeutic area of oncology. [MorphoSys AG] Press Release

Chinese Science Ministry Increases Funding
The Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology unveiled a list of 64 research projects to be funded under the sixth round of its annual National Major Scientific Research Program. [Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology] 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)

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

Contract Assay Service Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Research and Development Technologist (STEMCELL Technologies) 

Proteomics, Vascular Biology/Angiogenesis, or Immunology (St.Michael’s Hospital/University of Toronto)

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