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Myeloid and lymphoid cells are derived from the same multipotent progenitor cell. Camargo and colleagues show that the transcription factor Mef2c restricts myeloid differentiation to favor production of B, T and natural killer cells.
The signals that regulate the development of natural killer T cells are not completely understood. Glimcher and colleagues document an essential function for the transcription factor Egr2 in the maturation of these cells.
The identity of the cytoplasmic DNA receptor that activates the inflammasome has remained elusive. Superti-Furga and colleagues use a proteomics screen to identity AIM2 as the DNA sensor for the inflammasome.
The biological function of the SLAM family receptor CRACC is not known. Using a CRACC-deficient mouse, Veillette and colleagues show that CRACC can activate or inhibit natural killer cells, depending on the availability of the adaptor EAT-2.
Leukocyte adhesion is governed by the affinity state of integrin LFA-1. Laudanna and colleagues show that many Rho GTPase family members interact to form a regulatory module that regulates LFA-1 activation.
Factors governing T cell homeostasis are poorly defined. Hedrick and colleagues find that the transcription factor Foxo1 maintains the homeostasis of naive T cells by regulating genes involved in T cell trafficking and survival.
Compared with naive CD8+ T cells, naive CD4+ T cells undergo inefficient homeostatic proliferation. Mackall and colleagues now attribute this difference to interleukin 7–mediated suppression of the expression of MHC class II on dendritic cells.
The C-type lectin dectin-1 induces T cell responses. Geijtenbeek and colleagues demonstrate that in human dendritc cells, dectin-1 ligands induce two independent signaling pathways that act in synergy at the point of activation of nuclear factor-κB.
Hypoxia incites inflammation, particularly at mucosal surfaces. Eltzschig and colleagues show that hypoxia also suppresses inflammation by inducing expression of the neuronal guidance molecule netrin-1, which inhibits the transepithelial migration of neutrophils.
The mechanism by which the coreceptor CD28 contributes to T cell activation is vague. Ghosh and colleagues find that CD28 facilitates NF-κB activation by regulating recruitment and phosphorylation of the kinase PDK1.
New findings show that a subpopulation of mucosal RORγt+ cells expresses natural killer cell receptors and produces interleukin 22. These innate immune cells may be pivotal in maintaining mucosal homeostasis.
Regulation of expression of the gene encoding interleukin 10 by the histone deacetylase HDAC11 emphasizes the ability of an antigen-presenting cell to induce immunity or tolerance in CD4+ T cells.
A systems biology approach provides correlates of successful vaccination, which allows a new method for measuring early vaccine efficiency and suggests hypotheses for the mechanisms that underlie immunogenicity.
ADAR1 catalyzes the deamination of adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNA. This RNA-editing enzyme is now shown to be involved in hematopoiesis, where it acts to suppress interferon signaling and to block premature apoptosis.
Anjana Rao recounts the contributions of two talented and productive postdoctoral fellows who purified and characterized the transcription factor NFAT.
On 24–27 September 2008, members of the scientific community gathered to discuss advances in innate immunity at the 'Toll meeting' in Cascais, Portugal. Before long, attendees noticed that 'Toll2008' might be a misnomer.