Haemic and immune systems articles from across Nature Portfolio

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has diagnostic potential, and clarifying its origins will aid in the minimally-invasive detection and monitoring of disease. Here, authors find that physiologically, megakaryocytes are major sources of cfDNA, while erythroblasts also release small amounts of cfDNA.

Carbon-containing particulates accumulate with age in a subset of macrophages in human lung-associated lymph nodes, decrease macrophage phagocytic capacity and turnover and disrupt lymphoid tissue structure, potentially compromising adaptive immune responses.

Asplenia and hyposplenism can have multiple and complex causes and lead to morbidity and mortality, especially owing to overwhelming post-splenectomy infections. In this Primer, Lenti and colleagues review epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of these conditions, and discuss patient quality of life and future strategies.

Results of a new study indicate that eosinophils have a role in maintaining bone homeostasis through their inhibitory effects on bone-resorbing osteoclasts.

Cerebrospinal fluid is now thought to drain through lymphatics instead of veins, but the routes the fluid takes from the subarachnoid space to cervical lymph nodes are unclear. Using advanced imaging, a recent study provides unprecedented anatomical details of lymphatic vessels draining cerebrospinal fluid along the nasopharynx.

An approach that increases the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in vascular cells by targeting a microRNA-based repressive pathway attenuates atherosclerosis in mice and promotes atheroprotective functions in human and mouse vascular cells in vitro.