Immune Regulation News Volume 4.30 | Aug 10 2012

TGF-β Is Responsible for NK Cell Immaturity during Ontogeny and Increased Susceptibility to Infection during Mouse Infancy
Researchers demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) was responsible for natural killer (NK) cell immaturity during infancy. They found more fully mature NK cells in CD11c^dnR mice, whose NK cells lack TGF-β receptor signaling. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

The Innate Immune Sensor NLRC3 Attenuates Toll-Like Receptor Signaling via Modification of the Signaling Adaptor TRAF6 and Transcription Factor NF-κB
Researchers found that NLRC3 inhibited Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent activation of the transcription factor NF-κB by interacting with the TLR signaling adaptor TRAF6 to attenuate Lys63-linked ubiquitination of TRAF6 and activation of NF-κB. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Bat3 Promotes T Cell Responses and Autoimmunity by Repressing Tim-3-Mediated Cell Death and Exhaustion
Researchers found that human leukocyte antigen B-associated transcript 3 (Bat3) protects T helper type 1 cells from galectin-9-mediated cell death and promotes both proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine production. [Nat Med] Abstract

Neutrophils Mediate Insulin Resistance in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet through Secreted Elastase
Researchers showed that treatment of hepatocytes with neutrophil elastase causes cellular insulin resistance and that deletion of neutrophil elastase in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice leads to less tissue inflammation that is associated with lower adipose tissue neutrophil and macrophage content. [Nat Med]
Abstract | Press Release

Modulating Inflammatory Monocytes with a Unique MicroRNA Gene Signature Ameliorates Murine ALS
Researchers investigated the role of innate immunity in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They found that inflammatory monocytes were activated and that their progressive recruitment to the spinal cord, but not brain, correlated with neuronal loss. [J Clin Invest] Abstract | Press Release

Activation of the Noncanonical NF-κB Pathway by HIV Controls a Dendritic Cell Immunoregulatory Phenotype
The authors concluded that the noncanonical NF-κB pathway is integral in controlling immunoregulatory phenotypes of both plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs) and conventional DCs. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Altered Generation of Induced Regulatory T Cells in the FVB.mdr1a^−/− Mouse Model of Colitis
Researchers demonstrated that mice with P-glycoprotein deficiency have decreased levels of Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells in the intestinal lamina propria. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Administration of Anti-CD3 Antibodies Modulates the Immune Response to an Infusion of α-Glucosidase in Mice
Scientists demonstrated that mice treated with anti-CD3 antibodies (Abs) showed reduced numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells, and an increased ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺/CD4⁺ and CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺/CD4⁺ cells. When the CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells were depleted using anti-CD25 Abs, the observed reduction in Abs against the enzyme by anti-CD3 Abs was abrogated. [Mol Ther] Abstract

Adoptive Transfer of Th1-Conditioned Lymphocytes Promotes Axonal Remodeling and Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury
Researchers demonstrated that a specific T-lymphocyte subset enhances functional recovery after contusion spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. Intraperitoneal adoptive transfer of type 1 helper T-conditioned cells four days after SCI promoted recovery of locomotor activity and tactile sensation and concomitantly induced regrowth of corticospinal tract and serotonergic fibers. [Cell Death Dis] Abstract

Proof-of-Concept, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Bacillus-Calmette-Guerin for Treatment of Long-Term Type 1 Diabetes
The authors concluded that Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treatment or EBV infection transiently modified the autoimmunity that underlies type 1 diabetes by stimulating the host innate immune response. [PLoS One]
Full Article | Press Release

TAP-Deficient Human iPS Cell-Derived Myeloid Cell Lines as Unlimited Cell Source for Dendritic Cell-Like Antigen-Presenting Cells
Researchers transduced induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived CD11b⁺ myeloid cells with genes associated with proliferative or anti-senescence effects, enabling the cells to propagate for more than four months in a macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent manner while retaining their capacity to differentiate into functional antigen-presenting cells. [Gene Ther] Abstract

University of Pennsylvania and Novartis Form Alliance to Expand Use of Personalized T Cell Therapy for Cancer Patients
In an alliance aimed at bringing a new, personalized immunotherapy approach to patients with a wide variety of cancers, the University of Pennsylvania and Novartis announced an exclusive global research and licensing agreement to further study and commercialize novel cellular immunotherapies using chimeric antigen receptor technologies. [Penn Medicine] Press Release

Synthetic Biologics and Intrexon Corporation Enter Worldwide Exclusive Collaboration for Infectious Diseases
Synthetic Biologics, Inc. and Intrexon Corporation entered into a second worldwide exclusive channel collaboration through which Synthetic Biologics intends to develop and commercialize a series of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of certain infectious diseases not adequately addressed by existing therapies. [Synthetic Biologics, Inc.] Press Release

Northwest Bio Expands Worldwide Production Capacity for DCVax^®-L
Northwest Biotherapeutics announced that it is entering into amended agreements to double the production capacity in the U.S. for the manufacture of the Company’s DCVax^®-L immune therapy for Glioblastoma multiforme patients. [Northwest Biotherapeutics] Press Release

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