Volume 2.06 | Feb 18 - Human Immunology News

Human Immunology News 2.06 February 18, 2014

TOP STORY

Transcriptome-Based Network Analysis Reveals a Spectrum Model of Human Macrophage Activation
The authors stimulated human macrophages with diverse activation signals, acquiring a data set of 299 macrophage transcriptomes. Analysis of this data set revealed a spectrum of macrophage activation states extending the current M1 versus M2-polarization model. [Immunity]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

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PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

T Cell Repertoire following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Sclerosis
In a Phase II study of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for poor-prognosis multiple sclerosis, scientists used high-throughput deep TCRß chain sequencing to assess millions of individual TCRs per patient sample. They found that HSCT has distinctive effects on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell repertoires. [J Clin Invest]
Full Article | Press Release

Regulatory T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Showed Increased Plasticity toward Th17 but Retained Suppressive Function in Peripheral Blood
Scientists investigated IL-17-producing regulatory T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and characterized their regulatory capacity and clinical significance. [Ann Rheum Dis] Abstract

Hypoxia and STAT3 Signaling Interactions Regulate Pro-Inflammatory Pathways in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Researchers examined the effect of hypoxia on Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3)-induced pro-inflammatory pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. [Ann Rheum Dis] Abstract

Differential Effects of Fingolimod on B-Cell Populations in Multiple Sclerosis
Scientists analyzed blood samples from nine fingolimod-treated and 19 control patients with multiple sclerosis by flow cytometry, to determine the frequencies and activation states of naive B cells, memory B cells, and plasmablasts. The frequencies of each B-cell population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were greatly reduced two weeks after starting fingolimod treatment. [Mult Scler] Abstract

TIRC7 and HLA-DR Axis Contributes to Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis
TIRC7 was expressed in brain-infiltrating lymphocytes and strongly correlated with disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). TIRC7 expression was reduced in T cells and induced in B cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from MS patients. [Mult Scler] Abstract

ImmTAC-Redirected Tumor Cell Killing Induces and Potentiates Antigen Cross-Presentation by Dendritic Cells
Using an ImmTAC (immune-mobilizing monoclonal T cell receptor against cancer) specific for a HLA-A*02-restricted peptide derived from the melanoma antigen gp100, scientists observed that ImmTAC-driven melanoma-cell death leads to cross-presentation of melanoma antigens by dendritic cells. [Cancer Immunol Immunother] Abstract

Bufalin, a Bioactive Component of the Chinese Medicine Chansu, Inhibits Inflammation and Invasion of Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes
Researchers investigated the effects of bufalin on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a)-induced invasion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Their results revealed that TNF-a significantly increased p65 translocation into nucleus and enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B DNA-binding activity, which were dose-dependently inhibited by bufalin. [Inflammation] Abstract

Increased TTS Expression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scientists studied the imbalance expressions of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TTS) with rheumatoid arthritis patients. The expressions of IDO and TTS were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. [Clin Exp Med] Abstract

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REVIEWS

Targeting the Fc Receptor in Autoimmune Disease
The authors discuss the nature of different Fc receptors and the various mechanisms of their involvement in initiating and modulating immunocyte functions and their biological consequences. [Expert Opin Ther Targets] Abstract

A Review of the Current Literature and a Guide to the Early Diagnosis of Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Neuromyelitis Optica
The authors present a comprehensive review of the current literature on autoimmune disorders co-existing with neuromyelitis optica and identified 22 autoimmune conditions. [Autoimmunity] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the human immunology research field.

INDUSTRY NEWS

A*STAR, NUS and NUH Join Forces to Understand Immune Erosion in Elderly
A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network signed a three-year partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital (NUH) and Sanofi Pasteur to embark on a Phase IV clinical trial to understand age-related loss of immunity, known as immunosenescence, in elderly. [A*STAR] Press Release

Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited and Pierre Fabre Announce a Licensing Agreement for a New Cancer Therapeutic in Immuno-Oncology: AUNP12, an Immune Checkpoint Modulator Targeting the PD-1 Pathway
Pierre Fabre and Aurigene announced that the two companies have entered into a collaborative license, development and commercialization agreement granting Pierre Fabre global Worldwide rights (excluding India) to a new immune checkpoint modulator, AUNP-12. [Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited] Press Release

DiaVacs Announces a Strategic Collaboration with Profil Institute to Conduct Phase IB/IIA Randomized Clinical Trial of New Cell-Based Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes
DiaVacs, Inc. and Profil® Institute for Clinical Research, Inc. announced a strategic collaboration to conduct DiaVacs’ Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial. [Profil® Institute for Clinical Research, Inc.] Press Release

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POLICY NEWS

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

EVENTS

NEW International Congress of Antibodies 2014
April 25-28, 2014
Dalian, China

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Assistant/Associate Professors – Allergic Inflammation and Sensory Neurobiology (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine)

NEW Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Assistant – Adaptive Immune Proliferation (Cambridge Institute for Medical Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Interleukin-12 Family Members (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

PhD Student Position – Molecular Immunology (Institute for Research in Biomedicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Epigenetic Regulation of Interleukin-12 Family Members (Université Libre de Bruxelles)

Postdoctoral Position – Allergy and Immunology (University of Southern California)

Associate Professor – B Cell Immunologist (Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine)

PhD Research Position – Immune Tolerance and Autoimmunity (Weizmann Institute of Science)

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