Nature Reviews Immunology

Volume 9, No 12 December 2009

Featured Article

Antigen presentation in the thymus for positive selection and central tolerance induction

Ludger Klein, Maria Hinterberger, Gerald Wirnsberger & Bruno Kyewski


Front cover of the current issue of Nature Reviews Immunology

2008 ISI Impact Factor 30.01*

Next issue date: 23 December 2009

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

article graphic
Naive T cell homeostasis: from awareness of space to a sense of place

Kensuke Takada & Stephen C. Jameson

This Review describes our current understanding of how the 'space' for the peripheral naive T cell pool is influenced by competition for homeostatic signals and how the 'place' at which the T cells encounter these signals can influence their physical and functional maintenance.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

Article series: Tissue–specific immune responses
article graphic
Tissue-mediated control of immunopathology in coeliac disease

Bana Jabri & Ludvig M. Sollid

Coeliac disease results from an inappropriate response to dietary gluten. In this Review, the authors describe the ways in which intestinal tissue cells contribute to the inflammatory environment that leads to the induction of a tissue-destructive, gluten-specific T cell response.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

article graphic
Endolysosomal proteases and their inhibitors in immunity

Phillip I. Bird, Joseph A. Trapani & José A. Villadangos

This Review discusses the recent studies revealing new roles for endolysosomal proteases in immune cells, as well as their well known involvement in antigen presentation. These include crucial activities in innate immunity, regulation of cell death and control of pathogen invasion.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

article graphic
Dysregulation of germinal centres in autoimmune disease

Carola G. Vinuesa, Iñaki Sanz & Matthew C. Cook

Germinal centres are hubs for the generation of long-lived high-affinity antibodies that are necessary for adaptive immunity, but they can also be the source of pathogenic autoantibodies. Here, the authors explore how dysregulation of germinal centres might contribute to autoimmune disease.

CURRENT ISSUE

Perspective

article graphic
Interplay between the TH17 and TReg cell lineages: a (co-)evolutionary perspective

Casey T. Weaver & Robin D. Hatton

These authors propose that the T helper 17 cell and induced regulatory T cell lineages were the first T cells of the adaptive immune system to evolve in vertebrates as a means to counter-regulate immune responses in the gut to foster a large, diverse commensal microbiota for the benefit of the host.

CURRENT ISSUE

Research Highlights

More Immunology

Noticeboard

Focus on neuroimmunology

Understanding the crosstalk between the nervous and immune systems and how it can be dysregulated provides us with crucial insights necessary for the treatment of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Nature Reviews Immunology presents a special Focus issue featuring articles that review our current understanding of the immunopathogenesis of and emergent immunotherapies for these neurological diseases.

Poster on Type I interferon and SLE

The study of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients has revealed a central role for IFN–α in disease pathogenesis. This poster provides an overview of how IFN signaling is intimately involved in SLE pathogenesis. The poster is available thanks to support from PBL InterferonSource.

Poster on Antigen processing and presentation

This poster provides an updated overview of the intracellular pathways and mechanisms by which antigens are captured, processed and loaded onto MHC class I, class II and CD1d molecules for presentation to T cells. The poster is freely available thanks to support from StemCell Technologies.

Focus on Immune Signaling Cross–talk

Nature Immunology presents a focus on the complex interplay among signaling pathways operative in immune cells. The focus contains a specially commissioned overview, three review articles and two perspectives. Also included are highlights of recent research findings and several short comments–written by experts—providing in–depth insight into specific signal cross–talk points.

Focus on CD4+ T–cell diversity

CD4+ T cells have a crucial role in orchestrating immune responses, as well as in immune regulation. The recent identification of IL–17–expressing T cells (TH17 cells) has raised fundamental questions about lineage commitment and fate determination of CD4+ T cells. This Focus describes the molecular pathways that govern the differentiation of TH1, TH2, TH17 and regulatory T cells.

Article series on Tissue–specific immune responses

In October 2008, Nature Reviews Immunology begin a series of articles related to tissue–specific immune responses. These articles will consider aspects of immune responses in the context of the tissue in which they occur and highlight how tissue cells or tissue–derived factors in different organs can shape the outcome of these responses.

Structural Genomics Knowledgebase

A new window onto the world of protein structure has opened with the new, free PSI–Nature Structural Genomics Knowledgebase (PSI–SGKB). The site makes available the research data and tools from the Protein Structure Initiative, complemented with structural biology updates from NPG. Users can also suggest proteins for structure analysis.

Focus on Dendritic Cells

This Focus from Immunology & Cell Biology presents a collection of review and research articles that outline our current understanding of DC heterogeneity, how different populations contribute to T–cell responses, and how T cells differentiate and maintain functional diversity.

Focus on Leukocyte Trafficking

This Focus from Nature Immunology presents five specially commissioned reviews and an overview that discuss how immune cells traffic through tissues and lymphoid organs.

Nature Reviews Genetics Wiki

Nature Reviews Genetics presents a first for Nature Publishing Group — a Review that can be commented on, updated, and added to by readers using Wiki features. The Review explores the past, present and future of the biology cyberinfrastructure.

Focus on Mucosal Immunology

This Focus from Nature Reviews Immunology highlights the latest advances in our understanding of host–microbe interactions at mucosal sites and the consequences of immune dysregulation at these sites.

Focus on Natural Killer Cells

Nature Immunology presents a series of specially commissioned articles that focus on the differentiation, responsiveness and biological roles of natural killer cells. The focus is available free to registrants for 6 months.

Focus on Allergy and Asthma

Millions of people worldwide suffer from respiratory diseases such as allergies, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and these diseases constitute a major public health burden. This Focus issue highlights the latest advances in our understanding of the immune bases of these diseases and outlines how this knowledge can be translated into more effective treatment strategies.

Poster on innate immunity: sensing and signalling

This poster provides an overview of the components and networks involved in pathogen sensing and signalling in the innate immune system. The poster is freely available thanks to support from MedImmune.

Web Focuses

Please visit our Web Focuses, which provide a selection of articles on a related theme drawn from Nature Publishing Group on key current topics of immunology.

Posters

Our Posters provide a visual overview of a hot topic in immunology. Thanks to generous support, they are freely available and can be viewed online as a high–resolution PDF.

2008 Journal Citation Report (Thomson Reuters, 2009)

Top

Extra navigation

Subscribe

Subscribe to Nature Reviews Immunology


Advertisement