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Sieweke and colleagues show that alveolar macrophages maintain a core gene expression program even after several months in culture and reacquire full transcriptional and epigenetic identity after transplantation into the lung.
In part of a series of commissioned pieces on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Sekaly and colleagues discuss COVID-19 vaccine progress, the underlying biology and prospects for the future.
Comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates uncovers important mutations outside the spike gene that help the Alpha variant to operate under the radar of innate immune surveillance.
On 15–16 November 2021, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) hosted a virtual workshop on DEAD/DEAH-box RNA helicases in health and disease. The goal of the workshop was to review current advances, and identify knowledge gaps and future research to improve our understanding of the function of RNA helicases, and leverage these molecules as molecular targets with translational potential.
A delayed second dose relative to the standard 3-week schedule for the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 significantly raises the levels of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The binding of PD-L1 to CD80 on antigen-presenting cells prevents PD-1 ligation on T cells. Therapeutic blockade of the cis-PD-L1–CD80 interaction liberates PD-L1 to bind to PD-1, inhibits autoreactive T cells and robustly alleviates autoimmune symptoms.
Xue and colleagues show that the transcription factor Tcf1 preprograms a transcriptional program that supports the bioenergetic and proliferative needs of CD8+ central memory T cells in case of a secondary challenge.
Crosstalk between the dendritic epidermal γδ T cell (DETC) T cell receptor and Skint1 expressed by keratinocytes at steady state regulates epidermal barrier function and maintains DETC responsiveness.
Hayday and colleagues show that sustained Skint1-dependent interactions between murine intraepidermal γδ T cells and keratinocytes are required to maintain the homeostatic barrier function and phenotype of the intraepidermal γδ T cells, including their preparedness to respond appropriately to epidermal challenges.
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is central to both homeostatic and pathophysiological events. Kroemer et al. review the mechanisms of ICD and its role in therapy and disease.
Okazaki and colleagues develop and characterize monoclonal antibodies that co-opt T cell PD-1 activity. These antibodies can be used to ameliorate experimental autoimmune disease.
Delaying a second COVID-19 vaccine dose is a common strategy to maximize vaccine coverage, but the immunological effects are unclear. Hall et al. demonstrate that a delayed second dose significantly enhances neutralizing humoral immunity.
LRRC8C is an essential component of volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) in T cells. By mediating the transport of cGAMP, LRRC8C inhibits T cell function by activating STING and the tumor suppressor p53.