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The filoviruses Ebola and Marburg use several different and effective mechanisms to both evade and battle the immune system. This Review explores recent findings in the filovirus–host-defence clash, and highlights the crucial areas in which additional research is necessary.
Distinct dendritic-cell subsets have differing antigen-presenting capabilities. Here, the authors discuss their distinct roles in immunity and maintaining self tolerance, and the unexpected interactions between the subsets that enhance the ability to respond to different modes of infection.
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 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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
In this Review, Luke O'Neill and Andrew Bowie discuss the role of the five adaptor proteins that are involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling, and provide a detailed molecular description of the earliest phase of TLR signal transduction.
Signalling through the high-affinity Fc receptor for IgE (FcεRI) mediates many of the features of allergic diseases. This Review provides an update of the FcεRI signalling pathways, induced with and without antigen, and how their regulation by inhibitory receptors may have therapeutic potential.
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an important clinical problem in haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Here, Warren Shlomchik describes advances in our understanding of this complex disease and the cells that are involved in its initiation and development, based on studies from experimental models.
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), the aetiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, establishes a persistent infection in its host. To do this the virus must evade detection by the immune system. But what mechanisms does the virus employ to do this?
Natural killer cells were so named because of their ability to lyse tumour cells. Although initial studies have provided encouraging results, several challenges remain in optimizing the use of NK cells in therapeutic settings, as is described in this Review.
The neonatal immune system faces a number of unique immunological challenges as the newborn moves from the sterile intra–uterine environment to a world rich in foreign antigens. How does the innate immune system deal with these challenges and what are the clinical correlations?
The DRiP hypothesis proposes that most peptides that bind to MHC class I molecules are derived from newly synthesized defective proteins. Here, the authors revise this hypothesis and propose that some peptides result from the random delivery of unchaperoned nascent polypeptides to the proteasome.
Through binding ubiquitous sialic-acid residues on cell surfaces, the Siglec family of lectins promote cell–cell interactions and regulate the functions of numerous immune-cell types. This Review describes the emerging roles of Siglecs in pathogen recognition and endocytosis.
Osteoimmunology encompasses the many interactions that are now known to occur between the immune and skeletal systems. This Review examines the delicate network of interactions between immune and bone cells, how their molecular mechanisms compare and contrast, and the crosstalk between the two systems.
The success and pathogenicity of HIV-1 largely resides in the function of the viral protein Nef. Here, the authors propose that Nef modulates a T cell's ability to form an immunological synapse and modulates T-cell activation to favour viral replication and spread.
Natural killer (NK)-cell activation by most pathogens seems to occur indirectly, and is dependent on signals from accessory cells, such as monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. This Review examines how the interactions between NK cells, accessory cells and a diverse range of pathogens occur.
