Immune Regulation News Volume 9.12 | Mar 31 2017

TOP STORY

A Viral Immunoevasin Controls Innate Immunity by Targeting the Prototypical Natural Killer Cell Receptor Family

Investigators identified a viral ligand for the inhibitory and activating natural killer reeptor (NKR)-P1 receptors. This murine cytomegalovirus-encoded protein, m12, restrains NK cell effector function by directly engaging the inhibitory NKR-P1B receptor. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A TLR9-Dependent Checkpoint Governs B Cell Responses to DNA-Containing Antigens

Scientists describe a relationship among the B cell receptor (BCR), TLR9, and cytokine signals that regulate B cell responses to DNA-containing antigens. In both mouse and human B cells, BCR ligands that deliver a TLR9 agonist induce an initial proliferative burst that is followed by apoptotic death. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

Commensal Microbes and Hair Follicle Morphogenesis Coordinately Drive Treg Migration into Neonatal Skin

Scientists showed that hair follicle (HF) development facilitates the accumulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in neonatal skin and that upon skin entry these cells localize to HFs, a primary reservoir for skin commensals. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Dnmt3a Regulates T-Cell Development and Suppresses T-ALL Transformation

The DNA methyltransferase enzyme DNMT3A is recurrently mutated in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients. The authors showed that inactivation of Dnmt3a combined with Notch1 gain-of-function leads to an aggressive T-ALL in mouse models. [Leukemia] Abstract

MiR-21 Is Required for Anti-Tumor Immune Response in Mice: An Implication for its Bi-Directional Roles

Investigators showed that miR-21, a microRNA known for its oncogenic activity, is also essential for mediating immune responses against tumors. Knockout of miR-21 in mice slowed the proliferation of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cells, reduced their cytokine production and accelerated the grafted tumor growth. [Oncogene] Abstract

Madecassic Acid, the Contributor to the Anti-Colitis Effect of Madecassoside, Enhances the Shift of Th17 toward Treg Cells via the PPARγ/AMPK/ACC1 Pathway

Oral administration of madecassic acid decreased the percentage of Th17 cells and downregulated the expression of RORγt, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22 and increased the percentage of Treg cells and the expression of Foxp3 and IL-10 in the colons of mice with colitis, but it did not affect Th1 and Th2 cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

HDAC1-3 Inhibitor MS-275 Enhances IL10 Expression in RAW264.7 Macrophages and Reduces Cigarette Smoke-Induced Airway Inflammation in Mice

The authors hypothesized that small molecule histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors targeting class I HDACs members that can regulate NF-κB could attenuate inflammatory responses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via modulation of the NF-κB signaling output. In an in vivo model of cigarette smoke-exposed C57Bl/6 mice, MS-275 robustly attenuated inflammatory expression of KC and neutrophil influx in the lungs. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Irreversible Inhibition of BTK Kinase by a Novel Highly Selective Inhibitor CHMFL-BTK-11 Suppresses Inflammatory Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis Model

Scientists discovered a highly selective and potent BTK kinase inhibitor (CHMFL-BTK-11) which exerted its inhibitory efficacy through a covalent bond with BTK Cys481. CHMFL-BTK-11 potently blocked the anti-IgM stimulated BCR signaling in the Ramos cell lines and isolated human primary B cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Innate Immune Response in Fetal Lung Mesenchymal Cells Targets VEGFR2 Expression and Activity

The authors showed that lipopolysaccharide induced expression of unique innate immune transcripts heavily weighted toward CC and CXC family chemokines. The transcriptional response was different between cells from E11, E15, and E18 mouse lungs. [Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol] Abstract

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Mechanistic and Pharmacologic Insights on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

The concept of augmenting the immune system to eradicate cancer dates back at least a century. A major resurgence in cancer immunotherapy has occurred over the past decade since the identification and targeting of negative regulators with antibody therapies to augment the anti-tumor immune response. [Pharmacol Res] Abstract

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

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics and Memgen Announce Letter of Intent for Potential Joint Immuno-Oncology Collaboration

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. and Memgen, LLC announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to exclusively negotiate the terms to possibly establish an immuno-oncology strategic collaboration focused on conducting clinical trials combining the companies’ respective cancer immunotherapy product candidates. [ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd.] Press Release

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Bristol-Myers Squibb and the Cancer Research Institute Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Immuno-Oncology Research

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) announced a multi-year clinical research collaboration to coordinate and rapidly initiate clinical immuno-oncology studies across the Parker Institute and CRI networks. [The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy] Press Release

Hanmi/Beijing Hanmi and Innovent Enter into a Global Strategic Partnership to Co-Develop a Novel Immuno-Oncology Bispecific Antibody

Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (Hanmi) and Innovent Biologics Co. Ltd (Innovent) announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and co-commercialize a novel immuno-oncology bispecific antibody on a global basis. [Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Nektar Therapeutics Initiates Clinical Study of NKTR-358, a First-in-Class Regulatory T Cell Stimulator, Being Developed for the Treatment of Immune and Inflammatory Disorders

Nektar Therapeutics announced that it has begun dosing in a Phase I clinical study evaluating NKTR-358, the company’s new biologic therapy, which is being developed to treat a wide range of auto-immune diseases and inflammatory disorders. [Nektar Therapeutics] Press Release

Trump Wants 2018 NIH Cut to Come From Overhead Payments

The Trump administration could slash $5.8 billion from the 2018 budget of the National Institutes of Health, yet still fund as least as much research by eliminating overhead payments to universities and research institutions, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price told lawmakers. [Science Insider] Editorial

European Commission Considering Leap into Open-Access Publishing

One of Europe’s biggest science spenders could soon branch out into publishing. The European Commission, which spends more than €10 billion annually on research, may follow two other big league funders, the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and set up a “publishing platform” for the scientists it funds, in an attempt to accelerate the transition to open-access publishing in Europe. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Phagocytes
June 11-16, 2017
Waterville Valley, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Translational Immunology (The University of Utah)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Biomedicine (University of Bergen)

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

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – Tumor Immunology (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Immunology (German Cancer Research Center)

PhD Student Position – Mucosal Immunology (Karolinska Institutet)

Principal Scientist – Immuno Oncology (Celgene Corporation)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Immune System (Lund University)

Research Investigator – Immuno-Oncology (Bristol-Meyers Squibb)

Associate/Full Professor – Immunobioengineering (University of Toronto)

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

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

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