Immune Regulation News Volume 5.42 | Nov 1 2013

Extracellular Adenosine Regulates Naive T Cell Development and Peripheral Maintenance
Researchers produced mice with a floxed adenosine A_2A receptor (A_2AR) gene, Adora2a, and showed that either global A_2AR deletion or cre-mediated T cell deletion elicits a decline in the number of naive but not memory T cells. [J Exp Med] Abstract

Prevention of Inflammation-Mediated Bone Loss in Murine and Canine Periodontal Disease via Recruitment of Regulatory Lymphocytes
The authors previously showed that the sustained presentation of C-C motif chemokine ligand 22 from a point source effectively recruits regulatory T cells (Tregs) to the site of injection. Following administration of the Treg-recruiting formulation to the gingivae in murine experimental periodontitis, they observed increases in hallmark Treg-associated anti-inflammatory molecules, a decrease of proinflammatory cytokines, and a marked reduction in alveolar bone resorption. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

MicroRNA-Directed Program of Cytotoxic CD8⁺ T-Cell Differentiation
Scientists showed that inflammatory signals regulate Dicer expression in cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and that deletion or depletion of Dicer in mouse or human activated CD8⁺ T cells causes up-regulation of perforin, granzymes, and effector cytokines. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Differential CTLA-4 Expression in Human CD4⁺ versus CD8⁺ T Cells Is Associated with Increased NFAT1 and Inhibition of CD4⁺ Proliferation
The authors analyzed cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) in normal human CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subsets and show for the first time that CTLA-4 is expressed significantly higher in the CD4⁺ T cells than in CD8⁺ T cells. Furthermore, they showed that blocking CTLA-4 on CD4⁺ T cells permits greater proliferation in CD4⁺ versus CD8⁺ cells. [Genes Immun] Abstract

T_h2-Type Inflammation Instructs Inflammatory Dendritic Cells to Induce Airway Hyperreactivity
Investigators showed that T_h2 cell-mediated inflammation in murine asthma models induces the expression of some markers of alternatively activated macrophage such as arginase 1 and resistin-like molecule-α in inflammatory dendritic cells by a mechanism depending on the intrinsic expression of STAT6. [Int Immunol] Abstract

Distinct Regulation of Th2 and Th17 Responses to Allergens by Pulmonary Antigen Presenting Cells In Vivo
Researchers showed that intranasal administration of fungal protease allergen induced both Th2 and Th17 responses in the lung with different kinetics. Notably, depletion of CD11c⁺ cells or macrophages greatly diminished the numbers of allergen-specific Th2 cells in the lung, the infiltration of eosinophils into the airway and airway hyperreactivity. [Immunol Lett] Abstract

Immunobiology of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Recent studies have demonstrated that in vitro expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of various origins have great capacity to modulate immune responses and change the progression of different inflammatory diseases. In this review, the authors focus on the crosstalk between MSCs and immune responses and their potential clinical applications, especially in inflammatory diseases. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immune regulation field.

Swinburne Awarded $1.26 Million Research Funding
Swinburne has received a total of $1,267,102 under the 2013 grants scheme, announced by the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP together with the Minister for Health, the Hon Peter Dutton MP. Researchers from Swinburne’s Centre for Micro-Photonics have received $606,894 to investigate how a key molecular switch is regulated in immune cells and cancer cells. [Swinburne University] Press Release

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Research Studentship – Imaging Membrane Lipid in Activating T Cells (King’s College London)

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