Immune Regulation News Volume 9.48 | Dec 15 2017

TOP STORY

Cancer-Causing Mutation Suppresses Immune System around Tumors

Mutations in ‘Ras’ genes, which drive 25 percent of human cancers by causing tumor cells to grow, multiply and spread, can also protect cancer cells from the immune system, finds a new study. [Press release from The Institute of Cancer Research discussing online prepublication in Immunity] Press Release | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Roquin Suppresses the PI3K-mTOR Signaling Pathway to Inhibit T Helper Cell Differentiation and Conversion of Treg to Tfr Cells

Investigators showed that deletion of Roquin-encoding alleles specifically in Treg cells caused the activation of conventional T cells. Roquin-deficient Treg cells downregulated CD25, acquired a follicular Treg (Tfr) cell phenotype, and suppressed germinal center reactions but could not protect from colitis. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

A Pck1-Directed Glycogen Metabolic Program Regulates Formation and Maintenance of Memory CD8⁺ T Cells

The authors showed that CD8⁺ memory T cells markedly upregulate cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (Pck1), the hub molecule regulating glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle and gluconeogenesis, to increase glycogenesis via gluconeogenesis. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Producing T-Regulatory Cells Are Associated with Severe Liver Injury in Patients with Acute Hepatitis A

Scientists investigated production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by Treg cells in patients with acute hepatitis A (AHA), and examined the characteristics of these cells and association with clinical factors. A higher proportion of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg cells from patients with AHA, compared with controls, produced TNF upon stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28. [Gastroenterology] Abstract

Loss of the Molecular Clock in Myeloid Cells Exacerbates T Cell-Mediated CNS Autoimmune Disease

Investigators showed that BMAL1 and time-of-day regulate the accumulation and activation of various immune cells in a CNS autoimmune disease model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. In myeloid cells, BMAL1 maintained anti-inflammatory responses and reduced T cell polarization. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

The LPS-Inducible lncRNA Mirt2 Is a Negative Regulator of Inflammation

Researchers showed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Mirt2 functions as a checkpoint to prevent aberrant activation of inflammation, and is a potential regulator of macrophage polarization. [Nat Commun] Full Article

ATG-Dependent Phagocytosis in Dendritic Cells Drives Myelin-Specific CD4⁺ T Cell Pathogenicity during CNS Inflammation

Scientists report that mice with conditional deletion of the essential autophagy protein ATG5 in classical dendritic cells, which are present at low frequencies in the nondiseased CNS, are completely resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis development following adoptive transfer of myelin-specific T cells and show substantially reduced in situ CD4⁺ T cell accumulation during the effector phase of the disease. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Foxp1 Negatively Regulates T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation and Germinal Center Responses by Controlling Cell Migration and CTLA-4

Researchers report that the deletion of Foxp1 lead to a high proportion of activated CD4⁺ T cells homing into B cell follicles with faster kinetics, resulting in earlier germinal center formation. In addition, they showed that Foxp1-deficient T follicular helper cells restore the generation of high-affinity Abs when cotransferred with high numbers of single clone B cells. [J Immunol] Abstract

Estrogen Receptor-α Binds the FOXP3 Promoter and Modulates Regulatory T-Cell Function in Human Cervical Cancer

Investigators report that estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) ligand estradiol was significantly increased in human cervical cancer (CxCa) tissues and tumor-infiltrating Treg cells, whereas blocking ERα with the antagonist ICI 182,780 abolished FOXP3 expression and impaired the function of CxCa infiltrating Treg cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Effect of Qianghuo Erhuang Decoction on T Regulatory and T Helper 17 Cells in Treatment of Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats

Qianghuo Erhuang Decoction (QED) is an effective recipe in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The authors explored the effects of QED on Treg and Th17 in adjuvant arthritis model. [Sci Rep] Full Article

GPR55 Regulates Intraepithelial Lymphocyte Migration Dynamics and Susceptibility to Intestinal Damage

Researchers demonstrated that G protein–coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), a receptor that mediates migration inhibition in response to lysophosphatidylinositol, negatively regulates T cell receptor γδ intraepithelial lymphocyte accumulation in the small intestine. [Sci Immunol] Abstract

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Metabolic Control of CD8⁺ T Cell Fate Decisions and Antitumor Immunity

The authors discuss recent progress on how cellular metabolism is linked to CD8⁺ T cell fate decisions and on how metabolic intermediates can impact gene expression via modulation of the epigenome. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract

Noncoding RNAs: Master Regulators of Inflammatory Signaling

Scientists cover the newly discovered mechanisms and functions of noncoding RNAs in the regulation of inflammatory signaling. [Trends Mol Med] Abstract

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

CIRM Grants ViaCyte $1.4M to Create Immune-Evasive Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines

ViaCyte, Inc. announced that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved a grant of $1.4 million to support the initial development of immune-evasive pluripotent stem cell lines. The focus of the project will be to genetically engineer the company’s CyT49 pluripotent stem cell line. Delivering immune-evasive pancreatic progenitor cells to patients with type 1 diabetes may provide the benefits of islet transplant without the need for pharmacological immune suppression. [ViaCyte, Inc.] Press Release

Patients’ Own Immune Cells May Hold the Key to Fighting Deadly Cancers

Scientists have taken a significant step forward in efforts to harness our own white blood cells to fight deadly cancers. A pilot study, funded by Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, in partnership with New York Blood Center, has successfully demonstrated that white blood cells can be removed, genetically modified and reinserted into cancer patients. [Montefiore Medical Center] Press Release

Iran’s Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Jailed Scholar

Iran’s Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed to Ahmadreza Djalali, a scholar who worked in Europe, according to the human-rights group Amnesty International. [Nature News] Editorial

French Researchers Hope New Chief Will Revitalize Troubled Funding Agency

French scientists are hopeful that the newly appointed chief of a major research-funding agency will revive an organization suffering from squeezed budgets and staff discontent. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Basic to Translational: Current Concepts of Liver Immunology
February 22, 2018
London, United Kingdom

NEW Cell Symposia: Translational Immunometabolism
June 24-26, 2018
Basel, Switzerland

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