Dyne’s POC myotonic dystrophy data; plus pulmonary T cell subset contributes to local antibody production after reinfection, DiosCURE’s COVID candidates and more

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 (T_RH), 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...