Human Immunology News Volume 3.41 | Oct 20 2015

Circulating Microvesicles Regulate Treg and Th17 Differentiation in Human Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders
Researchers determined the plasma levels of Annexin-V+ microvesicles (MVs) derived from different immune cells and platelets in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases and in healthy controls. T lymphocyte polarization assays were performed in the presence of MVs to evaluate their effect in Treg and Th17 differentiation. [J Clin Endocrinol Metab] Abstract | Full Article

Impact of Immunosuppressive Drugs on the Therapeutic Efficacy of Ex Vivo Expanded Human Regulatory T Cells
Investigators tested in vitro and in vivo the effects of tacrolimus, mycophenolate and methyl-prednisolone, major ISDs used in transplantation, on ex vivo expanded, rapamycin-treated human Tregs. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article

Antigenically Modified Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Generate Antigen-Presenting Dendritic Cells
Antigenically modified human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) were able to differentiate into tumor antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs). Without conventional antigen-loading, DCs derived from the minigene-modified hPSCs were ready to prime a tumor antigen-specific T cell response and further expand these specific T cells in restimulation processes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Low Thymic Activity and Dendritic Cell Numbers Are Associated with the Immune Response to Primary Viral Infection in Elderly Humans
Researchers explored age-related changes in human immunity during a primary virus infection experimentally induced by immunization with live-attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine. They discovered that aged subjects developed fewer neutralizing Abs, mounted diminished YF-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses, and showed quantitatively and qualitatively altered YF-specific CD4⁺ T cell immunity. [J Immunol] Abstract

TCR Usage, Gene Expression and Function of Two Distinct FOXP3⁺ Treg Subsets within CD4⁺CD25^hi T Cells Identified by Expression of CD39 and CD45RO
The authors report that expression of CD39 and CD45RO distinguishes three subpopulations within human CD4⁺CD25^hi T cells. Initial phenotypic and functional analysis demonstrated that CD4⁺CD25^hiCD39⁺CD45RO⁺ cells had properties consistent with effector regulatory T cells (Treg), CD4⁺CD25^hiCD39⁻CD45RO⁻ cells were naïve Treg, and CD4⁺CD25^hiCD39⁻CD45RO⁺ cells were predominantly non-Treg with effector T cell function. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Induced Arginine Transport via Cationic Amino Acid Transporter-1 Is Necessary for Human T-Cell Proliferation
Investigators assumed that trans-membranous transport of arginine must be crucial for T-cell function and studied which transporters are responsible for arginine influx into primary human T lymphocytes. They showed that activation via CD3 and CD28 induces arginine transport into primary human T cells. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

Mobilization without Immune Depletion Fails to Restore Immunological Tolerance or Preserve Beta Cell Function in Recent Onset Type 1 Diabetes
The authors tested the potential of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to impact type 1 diabetes progression in patients with recent-onset disease and assessed safety, efficacy, and mechanistic effects on the immune system. They hypothesized that pegylated G-CSF would promote regulatory T cell mobilization to a degree capable of restoring immunological tolerance and thus, preventing further decline in C-peptide production. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

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Immatics and UTHealth to Collaborate on Cellular Manufacturing for Phase I Clinical Trials
Immatics US, Inc. and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) will collaborate on cellular manufacturing for adoptive cellular therapy clinical trials. [The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston] Press Release

Generex Announces Memorandum of Understanding in Respect of a Phase II Clinical Trial for the Antigen Express Prostate Cancer Vaccine
Generex Biotechnology Corporation announced that its wholly-owned immunotherapeutics subsidiary, Antigen Express, Inc. has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with CompanDX Ltd. to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of the Antigen Express proprietary prostate cancer vaccine. [Generex Biotechnology Corporation] Press Release

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