Immune Regulation News Volume 9.18 | May 19 2017

TOP STORY

Certain Immune Reaction to Viruses Causes Learning Problems

Researchers have discovered a mechanism by which the body’s immune reaction to viruses like influenza and human immunodeficiency virus may cause learning and memory problems. [Press release from NYU Langone Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

The Transcriptional Coactivator TAZ Regulates Reciprocal Differentiation of T_H17 Cells and T_reg Cells

Scientists found that TAZ, a coactivator of TEAD transcription factors of Hippo signaling, was expressed under T_H17 cell–inducing conditions and was required for T_H17 differentiation and T_H17 cell–mediated inflammatory diseases. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Targeted Calcium Influx Boosts Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Function in the Tumor Microenvironment

Researchers showed that suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing by CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cell is in part mediated by TGFβ-induced inhibition of inositol trisphosphate production, leading to a decrease in T cell receptor-dependent intracellular Ca²⁺ response. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Myeloid-Derived miR-223 Regulates Intestinal Inflammation via Repression of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Investigators report that microRNA (miR)-223 limits intestinal inflammation by constraining the nlrp3 inflammasome. miR-223 was increased in intestinal biopsies from patients with active inflammatory bowel disease and in preclinical models of intestinal inflammation. [J Exp Med] Full Article

Gut Homeostasis and Regulatory T Cell Induction Depend on Molecular Chaperone gp96 in CD11c⁺ Cells

The authors report that selective deletion of gp96 from CD11c⁺ cells in mice results in alteration of dendritic cell and T cell subsets in the gut as well as loss of antigen-specific regulatory T cell induction in the mesenteric lymph nodes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Transcriptional Regulation of FOXP3 Requires Integrated Activation of Both Promoter and CNS Regions in Tumor-Induced CD8⁺ Treg Cells

Researchers report an augmentation CD8⁺FOXP3⁺ Tregs in breast tumor microenvironment. FOXP3, the lineage-specific transcription factor, is a dominant regulator of Treg cell development and function. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Interleukin-10-Producing LAG3⁺ Regulatory T Cells Are Associated with Disease Activity and Abatacept Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

The authors aimed to clarify the function of human IL-10-producing CD4⁺CD25⁻lymphocyte activation gene 3(LAG3)⁺ T cells (LAG3⁺ Tregs) and their association with rheumatoid arthritis. LAG3⁺ Tregs of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured with B cells and follicular helper T cells to examine antibody suppression effects. [Arthritis Res Ther] Full Article

TLR4 Supports the Expansion of FasL⁺CD5⁺CD1d^hi Regulatory B Cells, which Decreases in Contact Hypersensitivity

Scientists isolated splenocytes or splenic CD19⁺ B cells and compared the efficiency of toll-like receptor (TLR)4 ligand with TLR9 ligand, anti-CD40 and TLR9 ligand plus anti-CD40 on the FasL expression of splenic CD5⁺CD1d^hi regulatory B cells by flow cytometry. FasL expression in CD5⁺CD1d^hi B cells was rapidly increased after TLR4 ligation. [Mol Immunol] Abstract

Scaffold Protein JLP Mediates TCR-Initiated CD4⁺T Cell Activation and CD154 Expression

Using CD4⁺ T cells from jlp-deficient and jlp-wild-type mice, investigators demonstrated that JLP-deficiency impaired T-cell proliferation, IL-2 production, and CD154 induction upon TCR stimulations, but had no impacts on the expression of other surface molecules such as CD25, CD69, and TCR. [Mol Immunol] Abstract

Tim3⁺Foxp3⁺Treg Cells Are Potent Inhibitors of Effector T Cells and Are Suppressed in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Scientists found that the frequency of Tim3⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells, which were potent suppressors of proinflammatory responses, was downregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Reduction in Tim3⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg frequency was correlated with increased RA disease activity. [Inflammation] Abstract

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IL-17⁺ γδ T Cells as Kick-Starters of Inflammation

The authors review the current knowledge of the development, activation and pathophysiological functions of γδ17 T cells, aiming to increase the awareness in the community of the therapeutic potential of this ‘other side’ of interleukin 17 (IL-17)-mediated immune responses. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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

Advaxis Provides Phase I Data of Higher Dose Axalimogene Filolisbac

Advaxis, Inc. published online a poster previously presented that showed axalimogene filolisbac achieved durable response in a patient with persistent or recurrent metastatic carcinoma of the cervix. [Press release from Advaxis, Inc. discussing research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, Liverpool] Press Release

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals to Report Phase I Clinical Study Results with DCC-2618

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals announced that a poster presentation that includes updated results from the ongoing Phase I clinical study of DCC-2618, the company’s pan-KIT and PDGFR inhibitor, will be presented. [Press release from Deciphera Pharmaceuticals discussing research to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release

Chi-Med Presents Clinical Data

Hutchison China MediTech Limited announces that new clinical data on three of its novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors, fruquintinib, savolitinib and sulfatinib, will be presented. [Press release from Hutchison China MediTech Limited discussing research to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Chicago] Press Release

NOXXON Pharma Announces Collaboration with National Center for Tumor Diseases in Heidelberg For NOX-A12/Keytruda^® Phase I/II Combination Trial

NOXXON Pharma N.V. announced the signing of an agreement with the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg under which the NCT will conduct a trial evaluating NOXXON’s lead product candidate NOX-A12 in combination with Keytruda^® in metastatic pancreatic and colorectal cancer. [NOXXON Pharma N.V.] Press Release

Aurinia Doses First Patient in AURORA Phase III Clinical Trial of Voclosporin in Lupus Nephritis

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the first patient has been dosed in AURORA, the company’s Phase III confirmatory clinical trial evaluating voclosporin for the treatment of lupus nephritis, an autoimmune disease caused by lupus that involves extreme inflammation and failure of the kidneys. [Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

Nanobiotix Announces First Positive Human Data Showing that NBTXR3 Could Become a Backbone in Immuno-Oncology

Nanobiotix announced its first set of clinical data from its immuno-oncology program, showing the potential ability of NBTXR3 to transform “cold” tumors into “hot” tumors. [Nanobiotix] Press Release

UK Political Parties Promise Science Funding Boost

UK scientists worried about how Brexit will affect their funding received a boost when the country’s three main national parties pledged long-term targets to raise research spending. [Nature News] Editorial

Journal that Holds Record for Retracted Papers Also Has a Problem with Editorial Board Members

Last month, Springer, announced that the journal Tumor Biology was retracting 107 papers after finding that the peer-review process had been compromised. It was the third mass retraction at Tumor Biology. But that’s not Tumor Biology’s only problem. ScienceInsider has discovered that the journal’s editorial board, as published online, contains the names of several scientists who say they have no relationship whatsoever with the journal—including German Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

As Ebola Outbreak Grows, Question of Using Vaccine Becomes More Urgent

As health officials and aid workers head to a remote corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to respond to an outbreak of Ebola virus disease, a key question remains: Will the government authorize the use of a promising experimental vaccine? The vaccine had stunning results in a clinical trial in Guinea in 2015, but it has yet to be licensed for broad use. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Lawmakers Decry Trump Plan to Slash NIH 2018 Budget

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in the U.S. House of Representatives voiced their displeasure with the Trump administration’s proposed $5.8 billion cut to the budget of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Summit for Cancer Immunotherapy 2017
June 25-28, 2017
Gatineau, Canada

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

NEW Scientific Sales Representative – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Scientist I – T Cell Immunology (Celgene Corporation)

Scientist – Analytical Development (KBI Biopharma)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Associate – Innate Immune Responses (University of Glasgow)

Senior Scientist – Molecular and Cellular Neuroimmunology (Pfizer)

Postdoctoral Associate Position – Immunometabolism and Myeloid Cell Regulation within the Tumor Microenvironment (University of Louisville)

Senior Research Scientist – Natural Killer Cell Therapy (Anthony Nolan)

Principal Scientist – Immuno Oncology (Celgene Corporation)

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

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