CURRENT ISSUE

Review

Unravelling the association of partial T–cell immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation

Adrian Liston, Anselm Enders & Owen M. Siggs

Surprisingly, and somewhat counter–intuitively, partial T–cell immunodeficiencies are commonly associated with hyper–immune dysregulation. Here, the authors review the genetic basis of such immunodeficiencies and draw on mouse models to provide a potential explanation for the coexistence of immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

Interferon–inducible antiviral effectors

Anthony J. Sadler & Bryan R. G. Williams

Type I interferons (IFNs) provide the first line of defence against viral infection. As discussed in this Review, the IFN–induced antiviral effector proteins, such as ISG15, Mx proteins, ribonuclease L and protein kinase R, are important components of this response.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

Colony–stimulating factors in inflammation and autoimmunity

John A. Hamilton

As discussed in this article, in addition to their role as haematopoietic–cell growth factors, colony–stimulating factors have broader roles in immunity, and targeting these factors might have therapeutic benefits in inflammation and autoimmunity.

CURRENT ISSUE

Review

Ageing and life–long maintenance of T–cell subsets in the face of latent persistent infections

Janko Nikolich–ugich

A decline in T–cell immunity is a major cause of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in the elderly. Janko Nikolich–ugich weighs up the relative roles of and the interplay between homeostatic factors and persistent viruses in immune senescence.

CURRENT ISSUE

Progress

Multifunctional roles for MALT1 in T–cell activation

Margot Thome

Recent research on MALT1 (mucosa–associated–lymphoid–tissue lymphoma–translocation gene 1), a protein essential for nuclear factor–κB (NF–κB) activation, has uncovered new mechanisms by which MALT1 can orchestrate intracellular signalling events. Here, Margot Thome highlights recent progress which characterizes how the protease and scaffolding functions of MALT1 modulate T–cell activation.

CURRENT ISSUE

Research Highlights

• 

  Innate immunity:

  iNKT cells catch your breath

• Mucosal immunology:

  Another piece of the puzzle

• Autoimmunity:

  NKT cells linked to immune tolerance breakdown