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Recent studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 can be produced by T helper 1 cells. In this Progress article, Anne O'Garra and Paulo Vieira discuss the implications of these studies and the outstanding questions that they now raise.
In a rheumatoid joint, a hierarchical network of cytokines controls immunological processes that promote autoimmunity, chronic inflammation and tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. As proposed in this Review, defining these functional hierarchies may present new opportunities for treating the disease.
This Review describes the recent advances in our understanding of the role of TGFβ (transforming growth factor-β) signalling in the regulation of T-cell differentiation in the thymus and periphery, with particular emphasis on TGFβ-mediated control of self-reactive T cells.
In this Review, Akihiko Yoshimura and collegues discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins in the regulation of immunity, their involvement in human diseases and the therapeutic implications of targeting this family of cytokine regulators.
Recent studies have elucidated important roles for members of the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family in controlling vascular permeability and leukocyte transmigration. Christian Weber and colleagues highlight the role of JAMs as gate keepers in inflammation and vascular pathology.
A number of different non-conventional T-cell lineages with innate phenotypes have been identified. As outlined here, it seems likely that 'innate' T cells develop as a result of interactions with non-classical MHC molecules expressed by haematopoietic cells in the thymus.
In this age of information, keeping up with the literature can be overwhelming for any researcher. The generation of the IEBD – the first epitope-related database that makes complex and context-dependent information on immune epitopes readily accessible and searchable – may help
Cytokines act as key communicators for immune cells and maintaining a delicate balance in the level of these communicators is vital for health. This special Focus issue highlights the latest advances in cytokine research and the application of these findings for clinical intervention.
