Immune Regulation News Volume 7.09 | Mar 13 2015

An Endogenous Nanomineral Chaperones Luminal Antigen and Peptidoglycan to Intestinal Immune Cells
Researchers showed that amorphous magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate nanoparticles trap soluble macromolecules in the lumen and transport them to immune cells of the intestinal tissue. The macromolecule-containing nanoparticles utilize epithelial M cells to enter Peyer’s patches, small areas of the intestine concentrated with particle-scavenging immune cells. [Nat Nanotechnol] Abstract

A Shed NKG2D Ligand that Promotes Natural Killer Cell Activation and Tumor Rejection
Scientists showed that in mice, shedding of MULT1, a high affinity NKG2D ligand, causes natural killer (NK) cell activation and tumor rejection. Recombinant soluble MULT1 stimulated tumor rejection in mice. [Science] Abstract

ICOS:ICOS-Ligand Interaction Is Required for Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell Function, Homeostasis, and Induction of Airway Hyperreactivity
Investigators showed that a lack of ICOS on murine type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and blocking the ICOS:ICOS-ligand interaction in human ILC2s reduced AHR and lung inflammation. ILC2s expressed both ICOS and ICOS-ligand, and the ICOS:ICOS-ligand interaction promoted cytokine production and survival in ILC2s through STAT5 signaling. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Retinoic Acid Is Essential for Th1 Cell Lineage Stability and Prevents Transition to a Th17 Cell Program
Researchers investigated a role for retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of lineage stability using T helper 1 (Th1) cells, traditionally considered the most phenotypically stable Th subset. They found that RA, through its receptor RARα, sustains stable expression of Th1 lineage specifying genes, as well as repressing genes that instruct Th17-cell fate. [Immunity] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Neutralizing TNFα Restores Glucocorticoid Sensitivity in a Mouse Model of Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation
The authors investigated the role of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) blockade using etanercept in the responsiveness to glucocorticoids in two ovalbumin-based mouse models of airway hyperinflammation. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

MyD88 Dependence of Beryllium-Induced Dendritic Cell Trafficking and CD4⁺ T-Cell Priming
Investigators showed that beryllium induces cellular death and release of interleukin (IL)-1α and DNA into the lung. Beryllium enhanced classical dendritic cell (cDC) migration from the lung to draining lymph nodes (LNs) in an IL-1R-independent manner, and the accumulation of activated cDCs in the LN was associated with increased priming of CD4⁺ T cells. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Beyond Immune Density: Critical Role of Spatial Heterogeneity in Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer
Researchers combined automated histological image processing with methods of spatial statistics used in ecological data analysis to quantify spatial heterogeneity in the distribution patterns of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. They found that the amount of co-localized cancer and immune hotspots weighted by tumor area, rather than number of cancer or immune hotspots, correlates with a better prognosis in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer in univariate and multivariate analysis. [Modern Pathol] Abstract | Press Release

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Immunicum’s Chief Scientific Officer Presented the Technology behind the Cancer Vaccine INTUVAX
Immunicum AB announced that the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Alex Karlsson-Parra, has presented the technology behind the cancer vaccine INTUVAX. [Press release from Immunicum AB discussing research presented at the Symposium on Breakthroughs in Clinical & Translational Immunology, Stockholm] Press Release

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Baxter’s BioScience Business Acquires Biopharmaceutical Company SuppreMol
Baxter International Inc. and SuppreMol GmbH announced that Baxter has acquired SuppreMol for €200 million. SuppreMol is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing treatment options for autoimmune and allergic diseases. [Baxter International Inc.] Press Release

Penn Medicine Immunotherapy Pioneer Carl June, MD, Awarded 2015 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize
University of Pennsylvania cancer and HIV expert Carl June, MD, has been named one of two recipients of the 2015 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize for his outstanding work in cancer immunotherapy. [University of Pennsylvania Health System] Press Release

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Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Molecular Aspects of Autoimmunity (Singapore Immunology Network A*STAR)

PhD Studentship – Mouse Models of Asthma (University of Queensland)

Lecturer – Cancer Immunology (Plymouth University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy (Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Associate – Oligonucleotide Aptamer-Based Compounds to Protect Tumor Vaccine-Induced Immune Cells (University of Miami)

Director – Vector Production (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Senior Process Development Engineer (Sangamo BioSciences, Inc.)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Gastroenterology (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)

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