Immune Regulation News 9.30 August 11, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYStudy Reveals How to Reprogram Cells in Our Immune System Scientists revealed a method to reprogram specific T cells. More precisely, they discovered how to turn pro-inflammatory cells that boost the immune system into anti-inflammatory cells that suppress it, and vice versa. [Press release from the Gladstone Institutes discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Genome-Wide DNA-Methylation Landscape Defines Specialization of Regulatory T Cells in Tissues Researchers found that epigenetic modifications define the molecular characteristics of tissue Treg cells. Tagmentation-based whole-genome bisulfite sequencing revealed more than 11,000 regions that were methylated differentially in pairwise comparisons of tissue Treg cell populations and lymphoid T cells. [Nat Immunol] Abstract Investigators studied safety and mechanistic effects of injecting human leukocyte antigen–DR4(DRB1*0401)–restricted immunodominant proinsulin peptide intradermally every two or four weeks for six months in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients. [Sci Transl Med] Full Article | Press Release The authors evaluated the effects of the in vitro administration of melatonin to peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 64 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 64 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects on T helper (Th) 1, Th9, Th17, Th22 and Treg responses and analyzed the expression of the melatonin effector/receptor system in these cells. [J Pineal Res] Abstract Tissue-Specific Control of Latent CMV Reactivation by Regulatory T Cells Researchers investigated the role of Tregs in a mouse model of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection using Foxp3-diphtheria toxin receptor mice. Administration of diphtheria toxin after establishment of latency efficiently depleted Tregs and drove a significant increase in the numbers of functional murine CMV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article The authors investigated the microRNA expression profile in Treg cells isolated from peripheral blood and from pancreatic draining lymph nodes (PLN) of type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients and non-diabetic subjects. Among 72 microRNAs analyzed, miR-125a-5p resulted specifically hyper-expressed in Treg cells purified from PLN of T1D patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article Scientists determined the role of CCR5 in mediating the docking and activation of transferred Tregs in their protection of early blood-brain barrier disruption after stroke. Adoptive transfer of CCR5−/− Tregs failed to reduce brain infarct or neurological deficits, indicating an indispensable role of CCR5 in Treg-afforded protection against cerebral ischemia. [J Am Heart Assoc] Full Article Investigators demonstrated that dendritic cells (DCs) in mice that are Rbpj deficient in CD11c+ cells promoted the differentiation of IL-17A–producing Th17 cells. Those DCs exhibited a reduced ability for differentiating regulatory T cells induced by TGF-β. [J Immunol] Abstract The authors showed that Lamtor1-deficient CD4+ T cells exhibited marked reductions in proliferation, IL-2 production, mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 activity, and expression of purine- and lipid-synthesis genes. Lamtor1-deficient regulatory T cells survived ex vivo as long as wild-type regulatory T cells; however, they exhibited a marked loss of suppressive function and expression of signature molecules, such as CTLA-4. [J Immunol] Abstract Scientists found that murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells treated with cholera toxin (CT) matured by up-regulating MHC-II and costimulatory molecules using either high or low doses of CT or with cAMP, a known mediator CT signals. All three conditions also induced mRNA of both isoforms of the tolerogenic molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 2 (CTLA-2α and CTLA-2β). [PLoS One] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immunology of Infectious Disease News. | |
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REVIEWSThe Yin and Yang of Regulatory T Cell and Therapy Progress in Autoimmune Disease The authors summarize the progress and discuss the phenotypic, numeric and functional abnormalities of Tregs and systematically review the progress of Tregs therapy in autoimmune diseases. [Autoimmun Rev] Abstract Regulatory T Cell Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes: What’s Broken and How Can We Fix It? Researchers highlight the evidence suggesting that a reduction in the functional capacity of different Treg populations contributes to disease development in type 1 diabetes. They also address current controversies regarding the putative causes of this defect and discuss strategies to correct it as a means to reduce or prevent islet destruction in a clinical setting. [Diabetologia] Full Article Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immune regulation research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSTheravance Biopharma, Inc. announced early evidence of localized target engagement from the company’s ongoing Phase Ib clinical trial of TD-1473 in patients with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis. [Theravance Biopharma, Inc.] Press Release InDex Pharmaceuticals Receives Orphan-Drug Designation for Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis in the US InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB announced that the FDA has granted orphan-drug designation for the drug candidate cobitolimod for treatment of ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients. [InDex Pharmaceuticals Holding AB] Press Release Ocugen, Inc. announced the FDA has granted orphan drug designation for OCU300 for the treatment of ocular graft versus host disease. [Ocugen, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSAmericans Are Becoming More Open to Human Genome Editing, Survey Finds, but Concerns Remain Earlier surveys of Americans found a reluctance to support human genome editing, with many respondents expressing ethical and other concerns about such intentional tinkering. A new survey found that two-thirds of the 1600 respondents thought genome editing was generally “acceptable.” But that acceptance was qualified, and colored by religious beliefs and scientific knowledge. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Thousands across India March in Support of Science Thousands of scientists, university students and science enthusiasts gathered in dozens of Indian cities to march in support of science — lamenting their country’s low levels of funding for research, and complaining about government promotion of ‘unscientific ideas’. [Nature News] Editorial FDA Cracks Down on Pioneering Doctor Who Created a Three-Parent Baby The New York-based doctor who helped a couple have a child using DNA from three people has been told by the FDA that he can’t go ahead with clinical trials meant to test the technique. [MIT Technology Review] Editorial CRISPR Patent Battle in Europe Takes a ‘Wild’ Twist with Surprising Player MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, has become a new major player in the complicated European patent battles over CRISPR, the revolutionary genome-editing tool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW EACR: A Matter of Life or Death: From Basic Cell Death Mechanisms to Novel Cancer Treatments Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Regulation of Immune Responses (University of Iowa) Postdoctoral Scholar – Tumor Immunology (Washington University School of Medicine) Postdoctoral Position – Mucosal Immunology (Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center) Research Fellow Position – Immunology Research (ShanghaiTech University) Mouse Scientist – T Cell-Based Therapy (Tessa Therapeutics Pte Ltd.) Postdoctoral Fellow – Allergy and Immunology (New York University Medical Center) Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroimmunology (Duke University) Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Cancer Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Principal Senior Scientist – Human Disease Immune Profiling/Precision Immunology (Sanofi) Postdoctoral Fellow – Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Harvard Medical School) Assistant Associate or Full Member – Cancer Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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Home Immune Regulation News Volume 9.30 | Aug 11 2017