Dual-target CAR T cell therapy for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), delivered directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), triggers a broad immune response, with natural killer (NK) cell activation linked to better patient outcomes and longer overall survival. CSF of individuals who did not respond to the therapy exhibited a higher proportion of activated regulatory T cells (Tregs) and high baseline levels of immunosuppressive scavenger myeloid cells.

An international team of researchers has identified a genetic cause for a rare inflammatory skin condition. 

The investigators report in the journal Nature Immunology that a mutation in the gene OTULIN causes pediatric-onset pyoderma gangrenosum characterized by recurrent ulcerating skin sores. They classify the condition as a new inborn error of immunity (IEI) — one of a group of more than 500 genetic disorders that impair the development or function of the immune system. 

UC San Francisco researchers have developed a new form of deep brain stimulation (DBS) that adjusts in real time as a person walks, helping improve gait and reduce falls in people with Parkinson’s disease. The study, publishing June 15 in Nature Medicine, demonstrates for the first time that an implanted brain stimulator can detect neural signals associated with each step and automatically adjust stimulation within fractions of a second. 

WashU Medicine researchers Ali Ellebedy, PhD, and Hanover Matz, PhD, have found that Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine that is currently under review by the FDA triggers an immune response against a wide array of flu strains, potentially offering stronger and longer-lasting protection.