Immune Regulation News Volume 9.05 | Feb 10 2017

TOP STORY

A Distinct Innate Lymphoid Cell Population Regulates Tumor-Associated T Cells

The authors identified a unique innate lymphoid cell population that inhibits tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from high-grade serous tumors, defined their suppressive capacity in vitro, and performed a comprehensive analysis of their phenotype. [Nat Med] Abstract | Press Release | Video

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction Can Restore Antiviral Activity of Exhausted HBV-Specific CD8 T Cells in Chronic Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 T cells are functionally exhausted in chronic hepatitis B infection, and this condition can be corrected only partially through the modulation of inhibitory pathways. Researchers compared the transcriptome profiles of HBV-specific CD8 T cells from patients with acute and chronic disease with those able to resolve HBV infection spontaneously and influenza-specific CD8 T cells from healthy participants. [Nat Med] Abstract

CD8⁺ T Cells Orchestrate pDC-XCR⁺ Dendritic Cell Spatial and Functional Cooperativity to Optimize Priming

Scientists examined plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) spatiotemporal dynamics during viral infection to uncover when, where, and how they exert their functions. They found that pDCs accumulated at sites of CD8⁺ T cell antigen-driven activation in a CCR5-dependent fashion. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Critical Role of IRF1 and BATF in Forming Chromatin Landscape during Type 1 Regulatory Cell Differentiation

Type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1 cells) are induced by interleukin-27 (IL-27) and have critical roles in the control of autoimmunity and resolution of inflammation. Investigators found that the transcription factors IRF1 and BATF were induced early on after treatment with IL-27 and were required for the differentiation and function of Tr1 cells in vitro and in vivo. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Armc5 Deletion Causes Developmental Defects and Compromises T-Cell Immune Responses

Armadillo repeat containing 5 (ARMC) is a cytosolic protein with no enzymatic activities. Little is known about its function and mechanisms of action, except that gene mutations are associated with risks of primary macronodular adrenal gland hyperplasia. Scientists mapped Armc5 expression by in situ hybridization, and generated Armc5 knockout mice, which are small in body size. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Natural Amines Inhibit Activation of Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells through CXCR4 Engagement

Researchers showed that natural monoamines and synthetic amines inhibit plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) activation by RNA viruses. Furthermore, a synthetic analogue of histamine reduces type I interferon production in a mouse model of influenza infection. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Akt Signaling Is Critical for Memory CD8⁺ T-Cell Development and Tumor Immune Surveillance

Scientists examined the role of the serine/threonine kinase Akt in the generation of protective immunity by CD8⁺ T cells. Akt is known to be activated by the T-cell antigen receptor and the cytokine IL-2, but its role in T-cell immunity in vivo has not been explored. Using CD8⁺ T cells from pdk1^K465E/K465E knockin mice, they found that decreased Akt activity inhibited the survival of T cells during the effector-to-memory cell transition and abolished their differentiation into C-X-C chemokine receptor 3^lo CD43^lo effector-like memory cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

3-Bromopyruvate Ameliorate Autoimmune Arthritis by Modulating Th17/Treg Cell Differentiation and Suppressing Dendritic Cell Activation

The authors demonstrated that 3-bromopyruvate (BrPA), a specific hexokinase-2 inhibitor, significantly decreased the arthritis scores and the histological scores in SKG mice, with a significant increase in Treg cells, decrease in interleukin-17-producing T (Th17) cells, and decrease in activated dendritic cells (DCs) in the spleen. In vitro, BrPA facilitated the differentiation of Treg cells, suppressed Th17 cells, and inhibited the activation of DCs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PARP-1/PARP-2 Double Deficiency in Mouse T Cells Results in Faulty Immune Responses and T Lymphomas

The maintenance of T-cell homeostasis must be tightly regulated. Investigators have identified a coordinated role of Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and PARP-2 in maintaining T-lymphocyte number and function. Mice bearing a T-cell specific deficiency of PARP-2 in a PARP-1-deficient background showed defective thymocyte maturation and diminished numbers of peripheral CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Surfactant Protein D Delays Fas- and TRAIL-Mediated Extrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis in T Cells

Scientists aimed to determine the effects of surfactant-associated protein D (SP-D) on Jurkat T cells and human T cells dying by apoptosis. They showed that SP-D binds to Jurkat T cells and delays the progression of Fas (CD95)-Fas ligand and TRAIL-TRAIL receptor induced, but not TNF-TNF receptor-mediated apoptosis. [Apoptosis] Abstract

Protein Kinase C Theta Is Required for Efficient Induction of IL-10-Secreting T Cells

Researchers present data demonstrating a role for protein kinase C theta in the induction of suppressive, interleukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting T cells induced in TCR-transgenic mice following chronic antigen administration. [PLoS One] Full Article

Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immunology of Infectious Disease News.

The Principles of Engineering Immune Cells to Treat Cancer

The emergence of synthetic biology approaches for cellular engineering is providing us with a broadly expanded set of tools for programming immune cells. The authors discuss how these tools could be used to design the next generation of smart T cell precision therapeutics. [Cell] Full Article

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

Isogenica Announces New License Agreement with Maverick Therapeutics

Isogenica Ltd. announced a new licensing deal with Maverick Therapeutics, a private start-up biotechnology company utilizing a proprietary T-cell engagement format for the development of novel T-cell redirection therapies. Under the terms of the agreement, Isogenica has granted licenses to its family of llamd^TM VHH single-domain antibody libraries for the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products derived from these libraries. [Isogenica Ltd.] Press Release

Protagen AG Join Forces with the U.S. National Cancer Institute to Answer Pressing Questions in Immuno-Oncology

Protagen AG has executed a Material Transfer Agreement with the National Cancer Institute under which the parties will utilize Protagens SeroTag^® immune system profiling technology to identify biomarkers that predict therapy responsiveness, to monitor patients receiving immunotherapies, and for early detection of immune-related adverse events. [Protagen AG] Press Release

Takeda Presents $1 Million Gift to the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT to Support Immuno-Oncology Research

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT jointly announced that Takeda will support groundbreaking science in immuno-oncology at the Koch Institute. Over the next two years, the $1 million gift will help to build upon the research currently being conducted by the Institute to investigate the role of the immune response in cancer and develop potential novel treatments. [Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited] Press Release

Senate Confirms Price to Lead HHS

Former Representative Tom Price was confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by the U.S. Senate. Price now takes the helm of a $1 trillion government department that includes the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

The Marches for Science, on One Global Interactive Map

Weinberg, Berman, and an anthropology doctoral student Valorie Aquino, officially announced that a March for Science would be held on 22 April in Washington, D.C. Science advocates in more than 100 cities around the world say they will hold allied demonstrations the same day. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW AACR Annual Meeting 2017
April 1-5, 2017
Washington, D.C., United States

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

NEW Associate/Full Professor – Immunobioengineering (University of Toronto)

NEW Scientist – Primary Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

NEW Research Technologist – Cell Separation Automation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

NEW Research Technologist – Cell Separation & Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Assistant/Associate – Tuning the Immune Response in Tuberculosis (University College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology (Boston University School of Medicine & Boston Medical Center)

Scientist – Immunology (Moderna Therapeutics)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology)

PhD Position – Cell Signaling, Gene Regulation and Quantitative Biology (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Scientist Positions – Immunology (New York Blood Center)

Senior Scientist – (Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH)

Postdoctoral Position – Vascular Control of Immune Cell Infiltration and Metastasis (German Cancer Research Center)

Senior Scientist – Immunology (Immusoft Corporation)

Assistant Associate or Full Member – Cancer Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Immunology (University of California, San Diego)

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

Have we missed an important article or publication in Immune Regulation News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.