Dyne’s POC myotonic dystrophy data; plus pulmonary T cell subset contributes to local antibody production after reinfection, DiosCURE’s COVID candidates and more
BioCentury’s roundup of translational news
Dyne’s myotonic dystrophy antisense therapy reduces gene expression
Dyne Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:DYN) reported data from a new mouse model of severe disease showing its myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) antisense oligonucleotide therapy reduced nuclear DMPK RNA levels by 39-60% in the heart, diaphragm, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius. The mice express human TFRC; and the company’s FORCE platform conjugates nucleic acids to anti-TFRC antibody fragments to delivery payloads to muscle cells. Dyne plans to submit an IND for the DM1 program and its two others between 4Q21 and 4Q22.
T resident helper cells promote antibody responses in the lung
An article in Science Immunology revealed a population of CD4+ T cells in inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) that are dependent on BCL6-mediated interactions with B cells, and present in the tissue during flu infection. The new cell subset, dubbed T resident helper cells (TRH), localize with memory B cells and are required for antibody production. A University of Basel team showed that BCL6 deletion in CD4+ T cells resulted in redistribution of the cells outside iBALT and impaired local antibody production in response to influenza reinfection...