Immune Regulation News Volume 7.47 | Dec 11 2015

Dual Functions of Rap1 Are Crucial for T-Cell Homeostasis and Prevention of Spontaneous Colitis
Investigators showed that Rap1-GDP restrains rolling behaviors of T cells on the peripheral lymph node addressin, P-selectin and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 by inhibiting tether formation. Consequently, Rap1 deficiency impairs homing of naive T cells to peripheral lymph nodes, but accelerates homing of T_H17 and T_H1 cells to the colon, resulting in spontaneous colitis with tumors. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Identification and Characterization of Latency-Associated Peptide-Expressing γδ T Cells
The authors describe a subset of regulatory γδ T cells that express the latency-associated peptide (LAP). Thymic CD27⁺IFN-γ⁺CCR9⁺α4β7⁺TCRγδ⁺ cells migrate to the periphery, particularly to Peyer’s patches and small intestine lamina propria, where they upregulate LAP, downregulate IFN-γ via ATF-3 expression and acquire a regulatory phenotype. [Nat Commun] Full Article

MHC-Mismatched Mixed Chimerism Augments Thymic Regulatory T-Cell Production and Prevents Relapse of EAE in Mice
Scientists report that MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism with C57BL/6 donor in SJL/J experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) recipients eliminates clinical symptoms and prevents relapse. This cure was demonstrated by not only disappearance of clinical signs but also reversal of autoimmunity; elimination of infiltrating T, B, and macrophage cells in the spinal cord; and regeneration of myelin sheath. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article

Mica Nanoparticle, STB-HO Eliminates the Human Breast Carcinoma Cells by Regulating the Interaction of Tumor with Its Immune Microenvironment
Researchers investigated the therapeutic effect of STB-HO (mica nanoparticles) against one of the most prevalent cancers, the breast cancer. They investigated the effects of STB-HO treatment on the interaction of MCF-7 cells with macrophages, dendritic cells and natural killer cells, which constitute the cellular composition of tumor microenvironment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

TLR-3 Stimulation Improves Anti-Tumor Immunity Elicited by Dendritic Cell Exosome-Based Vaccines in a Murine Model of Melanoma
Scientists explored a novel dendritic cell (DC)-derived exosome (Dexo) vaccine formulation composed of Dexo purified from DCs loaded with antigens and matured with either the TLR-3 ligand poly(I:C), the TLR-4 ligand LPS or the TLR-9 ligand CpG-B. When poly(I:C) was used to produce exosomes together with ovalbumin (OVA), the resulting Dexo vaccine strongly stimulated OVA-specific CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells to proliferate and acquire effector functions. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Novel Therapeutic Compound Tuftsin-Phosphorylcholine Attenuate Collagen Induced Arthritis
Investigators aimed to decipher the tolerogenic potential of Tuftsin-PC (TPC), a novel helminth based compound in collagen induced arthritis in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. TPC significantly expanded the CD4‏⁺CD25⁺‏FOXP3⁺‏ T-regulatory cells and CD19⁺IL-10⁺CD5^highCD1d^highTIM-1⁺ B-regulatory cells phenotypes in treated mice. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

Enhancement of the In Vivo Persistence and Antitumor Efficacy of CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells through the Delivery of Modified TERT mRNA
Scientists showed that the transient delivery of modified mRNA encoding telomerase reverse transcriptase to human chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting the CD19 antigen would transiently elevate the telomerase activity in these cells, leading to increased proliferation and delayed replicative senescence without risk of insertion mutagenesis or immortalization. [Cell Discov] Full Article

Don’t forget to subscribe to Human Immunology News and Immunology of Infectious Disease News!

T Follicular Helper (Tfh) Cells in Lupus: Activation and Involvement in SLE Pathogenesis
The authors summarize the current knowledge regarding the involvement of Tfh cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis, and discuss potential strategies to target Tfh cells and/or molecules as a therapeutic modality of SLE. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the Immune Regulation research field.

Advaxis to Present Poster on ADXS-HER2
Advaxis, Inc. announced that presented a poster on Advaxis’s Lm Technology™ cancer immunotherapy ADXS-HER2. [Press release from Advaxis, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), San Antonio] Press Release | Poster

ZIOPHARM Announces Presentation of Phase Ib/II Study of Ad-RTS-hIL-12 Gene Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. announced the presentation of the study design and a trial update for a Phase Ib/II study of Ad-RTS-hIL-12 + veledimex following standard chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. [Press release from ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), San Antonio] Press Release

TapImmune Presents New Data Showing Robust Generation of T-Cell Immunity
TapImmune, Inc. presented new data in a poster titled, “Robust generation of T-cell immunity to HER2 in HER2⁺ breast cancer patients with a degenerate subdominant HLA-DR epitope vaccine.” [Press release from TapImmune, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), San Antonio] Press Release

First Experimental Results for the Treatment of Colitis with Viaskin^® Will Be Presented
DBV Technologies announced that a communication on experimental results on the use of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy in a model of Crohn’s disease will be presented. [Press release from DBV Technologies discussing research to be presented at the 2015 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (AIBD), Orlando] Press Release

From our sponsor: Studying ESCs or iPSCs? Request your free copy of the small molecules wallchart.

GeoVax Begins Oncology Immunotherapy Program
GeoVax Labs, Inc. announced that it has begun a new program to evaluate its MVA-VLP vaccine platform for use in cancer immunotherapy, and has entered into a collaborative research agreement with the University of Pittsburgh for selection and testing of vaccine candidates. [GeoVax Labs, Inc.] Press Release

Neon Therapeutics Enters License Agreement with the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital
Neon Therapeutics announced that the company has entered into a license agreement with the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital for technology to be utilized in Neon Therapeutics’ pipeline. [Neon Therapeutics] 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.

Senior Scientist – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Open Scientist Positions – Gene and Cell Therapy (Autolus)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Immunotherapy (Bayer HealthCare AG)

Researchers – Immunotherapy (ISPIC Consortium Members)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Associate Professor – Immuno-Engineering (University of Chicago)

Research Technician – Preclinical and Translational Research (Qu Biologics Inc.)

Scientist – Preclinical Immunology (Kanyos Bio)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Regulatory Functions of Immune-Checkpoint Proteins (Medical College of Wisconsin)

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.