Immune Regulation News Volume 8.28 | Aug 5 2016

TOP STORY

Improving the Efficacy and Safety of Biologic Drugs with Tolerogenic Nanoparticles

Scientists demonstrated that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles carrying rapamycin, but not free rapamycin, are capable of inducing durable immunological tolerance to co-administered proteins that is characterized by the induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells, an increase in regulatory T cells, a reduction in B cell activation and germinal center formation, and the inhibition of antigen-specific hypersensitivity reactions. [Nat Nanotechnol] Abstract | Press Release

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C13orf31 (FAMIN) Is a Central Regulator of Immunometabolic Function

Single-nucleotide variations in C13orf31 that encode p.C284R and p.I254V in a protein of unknown function are associated with increased risk for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, leprosy and Crohn’s disease. Researchers set out to identify the biological mechanism affected by these coding variations. [Nat Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Affinity for Self Antigen Selects T_reg Cells with Distinct Functional Properties

The authors identified two regulatory T (T_reg) cell populations with differing degrees of self-reactivity and distinct regulatory functions. They found that GITR^hiPD-1^hiCD25^hi T_reg cells were highly self-reactive and controlled lympho-proliferation in peripheral lymph nodes. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Loss of ABCG1 Influences Regulatory T Cell Differentiation and Atherosclerosis

Scientists investigated how the selective loss of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) in T cells impacts atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice, a model of the disease. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

A miR-155–Peli1–c-Rel Pathway Controls the Generation and Function of T Follicular Helper Cells

Investigators performed deep sequencing analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in T follicular helper cells and identified a five-miRNA signature. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Press Release

Blimp-1-Mediated CD4 T Cell Exhaustion Causes CD8 T Cell Dysfunction during Chronic Toxoplasmosis

Although CD8 exhaustion has been previously reported in Toxoplasma encephalitis-susceptible model, the authors’ current work demonstrated that CD4 not only become exhausted during chronic toxoplasmosis but this dysfunction is more pronounced than CD8 T cells. [J Exp Med] Abstract

Regulation of B-Cell Development and Tolerance by Different Members of the miR-17~92 Family MicroRNAs

Researchers identified a critical role for the miR-17~92 microRNA cluster in regulating B-cell central tolerance and demonstrated that these miRNAs control early B-cell development in a cell-intrinsic manner. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

miR-146b Antagomir Treated Human Tregs Increase TRAF6-NFkB Expression, Suppressor Function and GvHD Inhibitory Potency

By performing comprehensive Taqman Low Density Array miRNA assays, investigators identified 10 miRNAs differentially regulated in human thymic-derived regulatory T cells compared to control T-cells. [Blood] Abstract

Engagement of SLAMF3 Enhances CD4⁺ T-Cell Sensitivity to IL-2 and Favors Regulatory T-Cell Polarization in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Scientists showed that signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family 3 (SLAMF3) functions as a costimulator on CD4⁺ T cells and influences IL-2 response and T helper cell differentiation. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

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Glaucoma: Recent Advances in the Involvement of Autoimmunity

Alterations in serum antibody profiles, upregulation, and downregulation have been described, but it still remains elusive if the autoantibodies seen in glaucoma are an epiphenomenon or causative. Hypertension, diabetes, and hearing disorders also are associated. The authors offer a glaucoma update with focus about the recent advances in the last 15 years. [Immunol Res] Abstract

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Regeneron and Adicet Bio Announce Strategic Collaboration to Discover and Develop Next-Generation Engineered Immune Cell Therapeutics

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Adicet Bio, Inc. announced a collaboration and licensing agreement to develop next-generation engineered immune cell therapeutics. The companies plan to engineer immune cells with fully human chimeric antigen receptors and T-cell receptors directed to disease-specific cell surface antigens in order to enable the precise engagement and killing of tumor cells. [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Caladrius Biosciences Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for CLBS03 to Treat Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes

Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. announced that its product candidate CLBS03 (autologous expanded polyclonal regulatory T cells, or Tregs) was granted Fast Track designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), making it the first known therapeutic candidate for treatment of T1D to receive the designation. [Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Neon Therapeutics Announces FDA Acceptance of Investigational New Drug Application for Cancer Vaccine NEO-PV-01

Neon Therapeutics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s Investigational New Drug application for its lead program, NEO-PV-01. [Neon Therapeutics] Press Release

Cancer Research Institute to Honor Three Scientists for Outstanding Contributions to Cancer Immunotherapy Research

The Cancer Research Institute will bestow its highest honors on three scientists who have made fundamental contributions to the fields of immunology and cancer immunology. [The Cancer Research Institute] Press Release

Scientists Seek Influence on ‘Brexit Ministry’

Worried at the prospect of losing access to EU funding and collaborations, scientific societies have fired off numerous letters asking the government to keep their country in the EU’s research system, and warning of damage already caused by Brexit. [Nature News] Editorial

Brain Implants and Gene-Editing Enhancements Worry US Public

Most people in the United States are more worried than enthusiastic about the prospect of scientific advances such as gene editing and brain-chip implants, a survey of thousands suggests. [Nature News] Editorial | Poll

Major Review Calls Time on ‘Gaming’ in UK Research Assessment

The United Kingdom’s mammoth periodic audit of its research is set for a shake-up that could change the way universities hire academics – and might also encourage scientists to spend more time on public engagement. [Nature News] Editorial

Antibiotics Funding Splurge Gets Mixed Reception

Antibiotics researchers are set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from a new funding stream — but not everyone thinks the cash is being directed to the right place. [Nature News] Editorial

Young Blood Antiaging Trial Raises Questions

A startup company has launched the first clinical trial in the United States to test the antiaging benefits of young blood in relatively healthy people. But there’s a big caveat: It’s a pay-to-participate trial, a type that has raised ethical concerns before, most recently in the stem cell field. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Dispute over President’s Age Tears Pasteur Institute Apart

Is 65 too old to stay at the helm of a major research center? That question is sowing division at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Science has learned, and has plunged the 128-year-old institute, home to 1200 scientists and the place where HIV was first isolated, into a leadership crisis. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

U.S. Mental Health Institute Puts Champion of Basic Science at the Helm

Up to now, Joshua Gordon has split his career between working with patients with mental illness and mice designed to mimic that illness. But this fall, the neuroscientist and psychiatrist will take control of the $1.5 billion U.S. National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland. [ScienceInsider] Editorial | Press Release

Pan-European Pension Fund for Scientists Leaves the Station

A pan-European pension fund for researchers, called RESAVER, was set up by a consortium of employers to stimulate researcher mobility. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW British Society for Immunology Congress
December 6-9, 2016
Liverpool, United Kingdom

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