Immune Regulation News Volume 7.38 | Oct 9 2015

The MicroRNA miR-22 Inhibits the Histone Deacetylase HDAC4 to Promote T_H17 Cell–Dependent Emphysema
Investigators explored the role of the microRNA miR-22 in emphysema. They found that miR-22 was upregulated in lung myeloid dendritic cells of smokers with emphysema and antigen-presenting cells of mice exposed to smoke or nanoparticulate carbon black through a mechanism that involved the transcription factor NF-κB [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Control of Peripheral Tolerance by Regulatory T Cell–Intrinsic Notch Signaling
Researchers found that lineage-specific deletion of components of the Notch pathway enhanced regulatory T cell (T_reg cell)–mediated suppression of type 1 helper T cell (T_H1 cell) responses and protected against their T_H1 skewing and apoptosis. In contrast, expression in T_reg cells of a gain-of-function transgene encoding the Notch1 intracellular domain resulted in lymphoproliferation, exacerbated T_H1 responses and autoimmunity. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Eomesodermin-Expressing T-Helper Cells Are Essential for Chronic Neuroinflammation
Scientists revealed that development of this late onset disease depends on cytotoxic T-cell-like CD4⁺ T cells expressing the T-box transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes). T-cell-specific deletion of the Eomes gene remarkably ameliorates the late-onset experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Conditional Knockdown of BCL2A1 Reveals Rate-Limiting Roles in BCR-Dependent B-Cell Survival
Researchers report on the consequences of conditional knockdown of A1 protein expression using a reverse transactivator-driven approach that highlights a critical role for this Bcl2 family member in the maintenance of mature B-cell homeostasis. [Cell Death Differ] Full Article

The Kinases NDR1/2 Act Downstream of the Hippo Homolog MST1 to Mediate Both Egress of Thymocytes from the Thymus and Lymphocyte Motility
Researchers generated and characterized mice with a T cell–specific double knockout of Ndr1 and Ndr2 (Ndr DKO). Compared with control mice, Ndr DKO mice exhibited a substantial reduction in the number of naïve T cells in their secondary lymphoid organs. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Glutamine-Dependent α-Ketoglutarate Production Regulates the Balance between T Helper 1 Cell and Regulatory T Cell Generation
Researchers showed that exogenous nutrient availability regulated the differentiation of naïve CD4⁺ T cells into distinct subsets. [Sci Signal] Abstract

MFG-E8 Is Critical for Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated T Cell Immunomodulation
The molecules and mechanisms pertinent to the low immunogenicity of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells remain poorly understood. Scientists provide evidence that milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a vital mediator in this phenomenon and directly suppresses T cell immune responses. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Modulation of Dendritic Cell Activation and Subsequent Th1 Cell Polarization by Lidocaine
Scientists showed that lidocaine inhibited the production of IL-6, TNFα and IL-12 from dendritic cells in response to toll-like receptor ligands including lipopolysaccharide, poly(I:C) and R837 in a dose-dependent manner. [PLoS One] Full Article

Lenalidomide Enhances the Function of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Variant III by Enhancing Immune Synapses
Researchers constructed a lentiviral vector transducing the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that consisted of 3C10-scFv, CD3ζ, CD28 and 4-1BB. The 3C10-CAR-transduced peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD3⁺ T cells specifically lysed the glioma cells that express EGFRvIII. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

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Asterias Biotherapeutics to Present at 2015 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that Jane Lebkowski, Ph.D., President Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer, will present at the annual Partnering Forum [Press release from Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. (PR NewsWire LLC.) discussing research presented at the 2015 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa, La Jolla] Press Release

Merck Presents Details on Immuno-Oncology Program Including First-in-Man Milestone with Investigational Bi-Functional Immunotherapy
Merck announced that it started investigating a novel, potential first-in-class bi-functional immunotherapy in clinical trials with the potential to offer an alternative therapy to anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 and other immunotherapies. [Press release from Merck KGaA discussing research presented at the 2015 European Cancer Congress (ECC), Vienna] Press Release

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CARsgen Enters into Partnership Agreement with Shanghai Cancer Institute and to Develop Novel CAR-T Technology
CARsgen Therapeutics provided a business and clinical update on its immunotherapy programs. CARsgen and Shanghai Cancer Institute entered into a five year research and development agreement for the advancement of CARsgen’s CAR-T cancer immunotherapeutics. [CARsgen Therapeutics] Press Release

Cesca Therapeutics Enters into Collaborative Agreement with Center for Immune Cell Therapies at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Cesca Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Center for Immune Cell Therapies at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center focused on the CellWerks^TM portfolio of devices for intra-laboratory stem cell purification applications. [Cesca Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Scientist – Biotechnology (Qu Biologics)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Principle Investigator – Immunology Center (National Institutes of Health- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Professor – Immunology (La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology)

Canadian Research Chair Tier 1 – Systems Immunology (University of Manitoba)

Scientist Position – Role of Inflammation and the Immune System in the Context of Tissue Regeneration (KU Leuven)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Shanghai Institute of Immunology)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology/Vascular Biology/Cancerology (University of Toulouse)

Postdoctoral Position – Neuroimmunology (Brain and Spine Institute (ICM))

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Development and Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Cancer (University College London)

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