PLoS Biol 3:e356 (2005)
Modeling T cell antigen discrimination based on feedback control of
digital ERK responses
This study combines mathematical modeling and biological experiments to
explain the characteristics of T cell receptor activation and discrimination of
different peptide ligands. The authors use phospho-specific staining of
ERK to study response sensitivity and kinetics. They use a TCR transgenic
T cell system, and pre-load the peptides onto APC, then pulse-spin the
loaded APC together with the responding T cells. This may be the best way
to deliver a synchronous stimulus when using peptide-MHC triggers, and
synchronous stimulation is critical when measuring rapid and transient
events like ERK phosphorylation.
Disis, M. L., C. Dela Rosa, V. Goodell, L. Y. Kuan, J. C. Chang, K.
Kuus-Reichel, T. M. Clay, H. Kim Lyerly, S. Bhatia, S. A. Ghanekar, V. C.
Maino, and H. T. Maecker
J Immunol Methods, in press (2005)
Maximizing the retention of antigen specific lymphocyte function after
cryopreservation
I know you're thinking, "Not another paper on cryopreservation of PBMC!"
Well, it is...the main feature of this one being that it highlights two important
parameters in freezing and thawing PBMC: protein additives in the freezing
medium (human serum albumin is best), and temperature of the dilution
medium when thawing (37C is best).
Fritsch, R. D., X. Shen, G. P. Sims, K. S. Hathcock, R. J. Hodes, and P. E.
Lipsky
J Immunol 175:6489 (2005)
Stepwise differentiation of CD4 memory T cells defined by expression of
CCR7 and CD27
This too looks like a paper I reviewed here recently (Amyes et al., JI), but it's
distinguished by use of CCR7 and CD27 as primary markers to identify
functional subsets of CD4+ T cells, and implies their differentiation
progression based upon telomere length.
Godoy-Ramirez, K., B. Makitalo, R. Thorstensson, E. Sandstrom, G.
Biberfeld, and H. Gaines
Cytometry A 68:71 (2005)
A novel assay for assessment of HIV-specific cytotoxicity by
multiparameter flow cytometry
There have been many flow cytometric alternatives to the 51Cr release
assay for measuring cytotoxicity. Here is another one, which claims greater
sensitivity than 51Cr. It is based on differential labeling of effector and target
cells with CFSE, and use of PI to quantitate viable versus dead target cells.
The assay is applied to HIV-specific cells, and the data looks pretty good.
Koff, W. C., P. R. Johnson, D. I. Watkins, D. R. Burton, J. D. Lifson, K. J.
Hasenkrug, A. B. McDermott, A. Schultz, T. J. Zamb, R. Boyle, and R. C.
Desrosiers
Nat Immunol 7:19 (2006)
HIV vaccine design: insights from live attenuated SIV vaccines
A nice description of the activities of IAVI around defining mechanisms of
protection for live attenuated SIV vaccines.
Maecker, H. T.
In Cancer Drug Discovery and Development: Immunotherapy of Cancer. M.
L. Disis, ed. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, p. 59. (2005)
The role of immune monitoring in evaluating cancer immunotherapy
And another review on immune monitoring! So, this book chapter brings
together information on the various monitoring assays, from ELISPOT to
CFSE, and reviews them in the context of cancer and cancer vaccines. Of
course I have a bias for single-cell flow cytometry assays, and maybe after
reading this, you will too.
