Immune Regulation News Volume 8.04 | Feb 5 2016

MicroRNAs 24 and 27 Suppress Allergic Inflammation and Target a Network of Regulators of T Helper 2 Cell-Associated Cytokine Production
A functional screen of individual microRNAs (miRNAs) in primary T cells uncovered multiple miRNAs that inhibited T helper-2 (Th2) cell differentiation. Mice lacking both clusters in T cells displayed increased Th2 cell responses and tissue pathology in a mouse model of asthma. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

SHARPIN Controls Regulatory T Cells by Negatively Modulating the T Cell Antigen Receptor Complex
Scientists found that SHARPIN deficiency resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of and defective function of regulatory T cells (T_reg cells). Transfer of SHARPIN-sufficient T_reg cells into SHARPIN-deficient mice considerably alleviated their systemic inflammation. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

CD4⁺ T Cell Anergy Prevents Autoimmunity and Generates Regulatory T Cell Precursors
Investigators found that anergy was selectively induced in fetal antigen–specific maternal CD4⁺ T cells during pregnancy. A naturally occurring subpopulation of anergic polyclonal CD4⁺ T cells, enriched for self antigen–specific T cell antigen receptors, was also present in healthy hosts. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Toll-Like Receptor-5 Agonist, Entolimod, Suppresses Metastasis and Induces Immunity by Stimulating an NK-Dendritic-CD8⁺ T-Cell Axis
Investigators deciphered the molecular and cellular events underlying the metastasis suppressive activity of entolimod, a clinical stage Toll-like receptor 5 agonist that activates NF-κB–, AP-1–, and STAT3–driven immunomodulatory signaling pathways specifically within the liver. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Full Article

Functional Evidence for TCR-Intrinsic Specificity for MHCII
Researchers asked if increasing the frequency of lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase-associated CD4 molecules in T-cell hybridomas would allow for the detection of subthreshold T-cell receptor (TCR)–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Donor-Derived Exosomes Induce Specific Regulatory T Cells to Suppress Immune Inflammation in the Allograft Heart
Researchers aimed to induce the donor antigen specific regulatory T cells to inhibit the immune inflammation in the allograft heart. Results showed that the donor antigen-specific T helper pattern inflammation was observed in the allograft hearts; the inflammation was inhibited by immunizing the recipient mice with the donor-derived exosomes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

miR-150 Regulates Obesity-Associated Insulin Resistance by Controlling B Cell Functions
The authors report that miR-150 modulates adipose tissue function by controlling activation of B cells and their interactions with other immune cells. Using purified cell populations, they found that enhanced proinflammatory activation of adipose tissue T cells and macrophages was due to miR-150KO B cells action but not cell-autologous mechanisms. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Treatment of Uveitis by In Situ Administration of Ex Vivo–Activated Polyclonal Regulatory T Cells
Researchers showed that polyclonal regulatory T (Treg) cells suppressed uveitis in mice as efficiently as Ag-specific Treg cells but only when preactivated and administered in the vitreous. [J Immunol] Abstract

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Adaptimmune and GSK Expand Strategic Immunotherapy Collaboration
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc and GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced that the companies have expanded the terms of their strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate Adaptimmune’s lead clinical cancer program, an affinity enhanced T-cell immunotherapy (GSK3377794) targeting NY-ESO-1, toward pivotal trials in synovial sarcoma. [Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc] Press Release

Terry Fox Award Helps Ottawa Researcher Develop Next-Generation Cancer Immunovirotherapy
The Terry Fox Research Institute has awarded Dr. Guy Ungerechts (The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa) a $450,000 New Investigator grant to develop innovative new treatments to destroy cancer cells and stimulate a patient’s own immune system to attack tumors, while leaving healthy tissues unharmed. [Terry Fox Research Institute] Press Release

OSE Pharma Announces U.S. Initiation of Atalante 1, the Company’s Global, Pivotal Phase III Trial for Tedopi^® Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
OSE Pharma SA announced initiation in the United States of its Phase III clinical trial, Atalante 1. This global, pivotal trial will evaluate Tedopi^®, the company’s lead product, for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. [OSE Pharma SA] Press Release

Worries about Brain Damage in Infants Linked to Zika Leads WHO to Declare a Public Health Emergency
Increasingly strong links between the spread of Zika virus and microcephaly in newborns led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

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NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Innate Immunity and Autoimmunity (UT Southwestern Medical Center)

NEW Faculty Positions – Immunology (University of Texas Health Science Center)

NEW Senior Scientist – Immunology (Bavarian Nordic GmbH)

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

Research Associate – Treg Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (University College London)

Research Associate – T Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies (University College London)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Immunity and Tolerance (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center)

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Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Indiana University)

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