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    In ovarian cancer, the immune system fails to eradicate established tumors partly due to the induction of immune tolerance within tumor microenvironment. In this study, we investigated the contribution of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in the establishment of immune tolerance in a cohort of 44 ovarian cancer patients. In the tumor and malignant ascites, CD4+CD123+BDCA2+ pDC were the most abundant dendritic cell subset; however, they were profoundly depleted in peripheral blood. The presence of pDC in primary ovarian cancer, but not ascites, was an independent prognostic factor associated with early relapse. Following chemotherapy, we observed a partial restoration of blood pDC levels in patients in complete remission. These findings show preferential recruitment of pDC into tumors where they express a partially mature phenotype that may reflect an in situ activation. Importantly, compared with pDC found in ascites or blood, tumor-associated pDC (TApDC) produced less IFN-?, TNF-?, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-1?, and RANTES in response to toll-like receptor stimulation, and alterations in pDC functions were mainly mediated through tumor-derived TNF-? and TGF-?. Unlike ascites-derived pDC, TApDC induced IL-10 production from allogeneic naive CD4+ T lymphocytes, suggesting the existence of a paracrine immunosuppressive loop. Taken together, our findings indicate that both local and systemic dysfunction of pDC play a critical role in the progression of ovarian cancer via induction of immune tolerance. Cancer Res; 71(16); 5423–34. ©2011 AACR.
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    Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new vaccine that could successfully treat cat allergies, promising relief to those who suffer from itching, watering eyes and sneezing. Immunologist Mark Larche, professor in the Department of Medicine in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Allergy and Immune Tolerance and his team have developed a vaccine which is effective and safe with almost no side effects. They
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    Postdoctoral Position in Immune Regulation A research fellow position is available to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between regulatory T cells, pathogenic T cells, and innate immune cells during immune tolerance induction in novel animal models, with a focus on their roles in regulation of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Strong background in molecular biology and immunology is preferred. The ideal candidates would also have expertise in flow cytometry, cell cu…
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    POSITION DESCRIPTION Supervise and independently perform studies to advance the goals of the principal investigator’s research projects in the field of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D). Available projects include the genetic basis of the immune tolerance induction defects that lead to the development of T1D, and the role of the iNKT-dendritic cell axis in the regulation of T1D. Design and execute experimental procedures in the field of immunogenetics, including gene mapping, phenotypic an…
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    Biogen Idec seeks a highly motivated senior associate scientist with expertise in in vivo and ex vivo immunology, ideally T cell biology. The scientist will support research investigating molecular mechanisms regulating helper T cell mediated autoimmune pathology and immune tolerance. Qualifications: Qualified candidates should have at least 5 years experience in the analysis of lymphocyte function (ideally T cells) using molecular biology, flow cytometry, and ex vivo functional analysi…
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