Immune Regulation News Volume 9.34 | Sep 8 2017

TOP STORY

A Cellular Tango: Immune and Nerve Cells Work Together to Fight Gut Infections

Investigators showed that the immune system and nervous system have co-evolved to respond to infectious threats. This means that scientists looking for ways to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or asthma that involve an excessive immune system response may also have to address the nervous system’s role. [Press release from Weill Cornell Medicine discussing online prepublication in Nature] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

mTOR Regulates Metabolic Adaptation of APCs in the Lung and Controls the Outcome of Allergic Inflammation

Working with mouse models of inflammation, scientists found that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)–dependent metabolic adaptation was required at discrete locations. mTOR was dispensable for dendritic cell (DC) homeostasis in secondary lymphoid tissues but necessary to regulate cellular metabolism and accumulation of CD103⁺ DCs and alveolar macrophages in lung. [Science] Abstract

HIV-1-Mediated Insertional Activation of STAT5B and BACH2 Trigger Viral Reservoir in T Regulatory Cells

Researchers showed that in 30/87 patients under combination antiretroviral therapy, BACH2, and STAT5B are activated by insertions triggering the formation of mRNAs that contain viral sequences fused by splicing to their first protein-coding exon. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Treg-Specific IL-27Rα Deletion Uncovers a Key Role for IL-27 in Treg Function to Control Autoimmunity

Using Treg-specific Il27ra^−/− mice, the authors report that IL-27 signaling in Foxp3⁺ Tregs is essential for Tregs to control autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

mTORC2 Signaling Selectively Regulates the Generation and Function of Tissue-Resident Peritoneal Macrophages

Inhibition of mTORC2 promotes peritoneal resident macrophage generation in the resolution phase during zymosan-induced peritonitis. Also, mTORC2-deficient peritoneal resident macrophages displayed increased functionality and metabolic reprogramming. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

TIM-4 Identifies IFN-γ–Expressing Proinflammatory B Effector 1 Cells that Promote Tumor and Allograft Rejection

Investigators showed that T cell Ig and mucin domain-containing molecule (TIM)-4 is expressed by a subset of B cells distinct from those expressing TIM-1. Although TIM-1⁺ B cells are enriched for IL-10, TIM-4⁺ B cells are enriched for IFN-γ. TIM-1⁺ B cells enhanced the growth of B16-F10 melanoma. [J Immunol] Abstract

Ezrin Links CFTR to TLR4 Signaling to Orchestrate Anti-Bacterial Immune Response in Macrophages

Scientists showed that Ezrin links cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and TLR4 signaling, and is necessary for PI3K/AKT signaling induction in response to macrophage activation. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Armored CAR T Cells Enhance Antitumor Efficacy and Overcome the Tumor Microenvironment

In vivo, researchers showed enhanced expansion and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell antitumor efficacy, culminating in improvement in survival in a syngeneic model of ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

PDE8 Controls CD4⁺ T Cell Motility through the PDE8A-Raf-1 Kinase Signaling Complex

The authors report that phosphodiesterase enzyme 8A (PDE8A) exerts part of its control of T cell function through the V-raf-1 murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (Raf-1) kinase signaling pathway. To examine T cell motility under physiologic conditions, they analyzed T cell interactions with endothelial cells and ligands in flow assays. [Cell Signal] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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The Life and Death of Immune Cell Types: The Role of BCL-2 Anti-Apoptotic Molecules

Researchers review the role of the BCL-2 anti-apoptotic family members on cell death/survival of the major immune cell types e.g. T, NK, B, dendritic cell lineages. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Verastem Expands Duvelisib Development Program to Include Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

Verastem, Inc. announced the expansion of its duvelisib development program to include targeting the treatment of patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL). Duvelisib has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with PTCL who have received at least one prior therapy. [Verastem, Inc.] Press Release

Merck to Acquire Rigontec, RIG-I Therapeutics Pioneer, Advancing Leadership in Immuno-Oncology

Merck and Rigontec announced that Merck will acquire Rigontec. Rigontec is a pioneer in accessing the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) pathway, part of the innate immune system, as a novel and distinct approach in cancer immunotherapy to induce both immediate and long-term anti-tumor immunity. [Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.] Press Release

Tikcro Technologies Announces Full Human CTLA-4 Blocking Antibodies

Tikcro Technologies Ltd. announced it has successfully humanized its cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blocking antibodies. They successfully generated full-human CTLA-4 antibodies from animal-derived models. [Tikcro Technologies Ltd.] Press Release

Empowering Thousands of Canadian Researchers and Students to Push the Boundaries of Knowledge and Innovation

The Minister of Science, Kirsty Duncan, announced $515 million in support for fundamental research through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) 2017 competition for the Discovery Grants program, scholarships and fellowships. This is NSERC’s largest annual investment, and it assists researchers by offering financial support though scholarships, fellowships, research supplements, and equipment grants. [Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada] Editorial

Italian Scientists Welcome Surprise €400 Million Boost for Basic Research

Italian scientists received a welcome surprise when Valeria Fedeli, the minister for education, university, and research, announced that Italy will put an extra €400 million into its main basic science fund, the Research Projects of National Interest (PRIN). The money, to be spent over three years, will more than quadruple PRIN’s annual funding. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Senate Panel Seeks Middle Ground on Human Fetal Tissue Research and Abortion

A Senate spending panel countered a move by its House of Representatives counterpart to quash federal funding for research that uses human fetal tissue from elective abortions. The move sets up a conflict that will need to be resolved when lawmakers meet later this year to hash out differences between the House and Senate bills, which will provide funding for the National Institutes of Health in the 2018 fiscal year. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

United Kingdom Wants Cozy Science Ties with Europe after Brexit

The U.K. government released a long-awaited position paper on the future of scientific collaborations with the European Union after Brexit. Its overarching goal is “a more ambitious and close partnership with the EU than any yet agreed between the EU and a non-EU country.” [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Human Immunity
October 22-24, 2017
Banff, Alberta, Canada

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Development of Immune System (Lund University)

Assistant Professor – Protective Immunity (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Mega Proteins to Control T Cell Signaling (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Training Fellows – Cell Death & Inflammation (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology (University of Georgia)

Postdoctoral Research Fellows – Systems Immunology (University of Oslo)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Regulation of Immune Responses (University of Iowa)

Postdoctoral Fellowships – Immune Signaling and Metabolism (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

Research Fellow Position – Immunology Research (ShanghaiTech University)

Mouse Scientist – T Cell-Based Therapy (Tessa Therapeutics Pte Ltd.)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy (University of California, Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Neuroimmunology (Duke University)

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