An Effective Approach to Prevent Immune Rejection of Human ESC-Derived Allografts
Scientists established knockin human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that constitutively express CTLA4-Ig and PD-L1 before and after differentiation, denoted CP hESCs. They then demonstrated that allogenic CP hESC-derived teratomas, fibroblasts, and cardiomyocytes are immune protected in humanized mice, while cells derived from parental hESCs are effectively rejected. [Cell Stem Cell]
Abstract|Press Release|Graphical Abstract
The Circulating Proteinase Inhibitor α-1 Antitrypsin Regulates Neutrophil Degranulation and Autoimmunity
Researchers investigated the ability of serum α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to control tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) biosynthesis and signaling in neutrophils and assessed whether AAT deficiency is a TNF-α-related disease. In vitro studies demonstrated that serum AAT coordinates TNF-α intracellular signaling and neutrophil degranulation of tertiary and secondary granules via modulation of ligand-receptor interactions. [Sci Transl Med]
Abstract
Lysine Deacetylase Inhibition Prevents Diabetes by Chromatin-Independent Immunoregulation and β-Cell Protection
The authors demonstrated that the clinically well-tolerated lysine deacetylase inhibitors vorinostat and givinostat revert diabetes in the nonobese diabetic mouse model of type 1 diabetes and counteract inflammatory target cell damage by a mechanism of action consistent with transcription factor-rather than global chromatin-hyperacetylation. Vorinostat treatment increased the frequency of functional regulatory T-cell subsets and their transcription factors Gata3 and FoxP3 in parallel to a decrease in inflammatory dendritic cell subsets and their cytokines IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract|Press Release
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Raises $34.4 Million in a Series B Financing
Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has completed a second and final closing of its Series B financing, securing an additional $14.7 million and bringing the total raised in the round to $34.4 million. The funding will be used to expand clinical development of Bellicum’s lead cellular immunotherapy product candidates. [Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
Press Release
TxCell Enters Col-Treg into Full Development for the Rare Disease Autoimmune Uveitis
TxCell SA announced it has initiated a full development program with Col-Treg for the treatment of Autoimmune Uveitis. Col-Treg is TxCell’s second therapeutic candidate from its ASTrIA platform after Ovasave®, TxCell’s lead autologous antigen-specific regulatory T-cell-based immunotherapy. [TxCell SA]
Press Release
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