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Kiyoshi Takeda describes a 2009 paper by Maslowskiet al. that provides the first evidence of a link between microbiota-derived metabolites and human health.
A substantial proportion of our genome is composed of endogenous retroelements of viral origin. Such elements can retain viral characteristics and drive activation of the immune system; this can contribute to both undesirable outcomes, such as autoimmune disease, as well as beneficial responses, such as increased immune reactivity to tumours. In this Review, the authors describe the pros and the cons of these 'enemies within'.
In this Review, the authors discuss the emerging role of T cell receptor (TCR) specificity and signalling in the differentiation, maintenance and function of regulatory T (TReg) cells. Understanding how TCR signalling regulates TRegcells has important therapeutic implications in the regulation of immune tolerance and inflammation.
The wide diversity of clinical and immunological phenotypes of patients with RAG deficiency, combined with structural characterization of the RAG protein complex, have provided new mechanistic insights into RAG protein function.
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is best known for its role in immune tolerance. In this Review, the authors summarize the recent advances in our understanding of the diverse functions of AIRE, including its role in selection of regulatory T cells and modulation of non-autoimmune diseases.
Anecdotal reports of HIV-infected children who have continued to control viral replication after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy have led to the hope that unique factors associated with paediatric infection might offer greater potential for HIV cure in children than in adults.