Immune Regulation News Volume 7.10 | Mar 20 2015

Network Integration of Parallel Metabolic and Transcriptional Data Reveals Metabolic Modules that Regulate Macrophage Polarization
By using an integrated high-throughput transcriptional-metabolic profiling and analysis pipeline, researchers characterized systemic changes during murine macrophage M1 and M2 polarization. [Immunity]
Abstract | Press Release

Cigarette Smoke Silences Innate Lymphoid Cell Function and Facilitates an Exacerbated Type I Interleukin-33-Dependent Response to Infection
Researchers examined the effects of smoke priming underlying the exacerbated response to viral infection in mice. Smoke decreased ST2 expression on group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) while elevating ST2 expression on macrophages and natural killer cells, thus altering interleukin-33 responsiveness within the lung. [Immunity] Full Article

Improved Antitumor Activity of Immunotherapy with BRAF and MEK Inhibitors in BRAF^V600E Melanoma
Using a mouse model of syngeneic BRAF^V600E-driven melanoma, scientists tested whether addition of the MEK (MAPK [mitogen-activated protein kinase] kinase) inhibitor trametinib would enhance the antitumor activity of combined immunotherapy with the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Prosurvival Bcl-2 Family Members Reveal a Distinct Apoptotic Identity between Conventional and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells
Researchers investigated the molecular control of cell survival of two main dendritic cell (DC) subsets: plasmacytoid DCs and conventional DCs and their dependence on individual antiapoptotic BCL-2 family members. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Macrolide Therapy Suppresses Key Features of Experimental Steroid-Sensitive and Steroid-Insensitive Asthma
Scientists used mouse models to investigate the effects of clarithromycin and amoxicillin treatment on immune responses and airways hyper-responsiveness in Ova-induced, T helper lymphocyte (Th) 2-associated steroid-sensitive allergic airways disease (AAD) and infection-induced Th1/Th17-associated steroid-insensitive neutrophilic AAD compared with dexamethasone treatment. [Thorax] Abstract

Interleukin-10-Producing CD5⁺ B Cells Inhibit Mast Cells during Immunoglobulin E-Mediated Allergic Responses
Researchers found that interleukin-10 (IL-10)-producing CD5⁺ B cells suppressed the immunoglobulin E- and antigen-mediated activation of mast cells in vitro as well as allergic responses in mice in an IL-10-dependent manner. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Distinct Modes of Antigen Presentation Promote the Formation, Differentiation, and Activity of Foxp3⁺ Regulatory T Cells In Vivo
Researchers showed that a self-peptide with low (but not high) stimulatory potency promotes thymic regulatory T cell (Treg) formation and can induce conventional CD4⁺ T cells in the periphery to become Tregs that express different levels of the transcription factor Helios according to anatomical location. [J Immunol] Abstract

Subscribe to our sister publications:
Human Immunology News and Immunology of Infectious Disease News!

Regulatory T Cells Turn Pathogenic
Unstable Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells play roles in the pathogenesis of diseases, which cause safety concerns regarding human Treg cell therapy. The authors highlight recent findings that demonstrate the pathogenic conversion of Treg cells in different disease models. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

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

From our sponsor: Free Nature Reviews Immunology poster – Immune Response to HIV. Request a copy.

Kite Pharma Strengthens Its T Cell Receptor (TCR) Cancer Gene Therapy Platform through Acquisition of T-Cell Factory B.V. (TCF™)
Kite Pharma, Inc. announced that it has further strengthened its TCR product platform and established a European presence through the acquisition of TCF™. TCF has the ability to discover and develop tumor-specific TCRs for broad application in cancer treatment based on its proprietary TCR-GENErator™ platform. [Kite Pharma, Inc.] Press Release

Lilly and Hanmi Announce an Exclusive License and Collaboration Agreement for the Development and Commercialization of an Immunological Therapy
Eli Lilly and Company and Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced they have entered into an exclusive license and collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of Hanmi’s oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, HM71224, for the treatment of autoimmune and other diseases. [Eli Lilly and Company] Press Release

Intarcia and Numab Sign Multi-Asset Collaboration to Develop Once-Yearly Therapies in Diabetes, Obesity, and Autoimmune Indications
Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc. and Numab AG announced a strategic collaboration focused on the development of once- or twice-yearly mono-specific and multi-specific antibodies addressing diabetes, obesity and autoimmune indications. [Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

VAXIL Receives EU Orphan Drug Designation for ImMucin for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma
Vaxil Bio reports that its lead drug candidate, ImMucin has received orphan drug designation from the European Medicines Agency of the European Commission for the treatment of multiple myeloma. [Vaxil BioTherapeutics Ltd.] Press Release

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)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the immune regulation community.

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Genome Dynamics in the Immune System (Imagine Institute)

Manufacturing Manager – Cell Therapy (Opexa Therapeutics)

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

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

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

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)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.