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Nature Immunology launches its first podcast with a historical piece on immunology at the UK's National Institute of Medical Research as plans develop for the future of the institute.
MicroRNAs regulate many biological functions. Research now indicates that intestinal epithelial microRNAs might also regulate the differentiation of goblet cells and promote T helper type 2 immune responses to parasite infection.
Direct evaluation of the contribution of somatic hypermutation (SHM) to mucosal immunity has been hampered by the lack of models able to dissociate SHM from class-switch recombination, which are both dependent on the cytidine deaminase AID. A new mouse AID model now demonstrates the critical role of SHM in the control of gut bacteria.
During the past few decades, the vital and lethal functions of mitochondria have been investigated extensively. Data now demonstrate that these organelles also regulate the innate immune response by modulating inflammasome-mediated generation of proinflammatory cytokines.
Infections in infants continue to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Understanding the immune mechanisms that operate in infants is necessary for the development of new approaches to improve the health of infants around the world.
The molecular mechanisms that direct the development of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) remain unclear. Chen and co-workers demonstrate a role for TGF-β in the development of TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs.
CTLs can produce the regulatory cytokine IL-10 to prevent excess inflammation during clearance of viruses. Braciale and colleagues now unravel the molecular pathways involved in IL-10 expression by CTLs.
Although in vitro–generated cells of the TH17 helper T cell subset are highly plastic, it is unclear whether TH17 cells that develop in vivo retain their phenotype. To investigate this, Stockinger and colleagues have generated a TH17 reporter system to map the fate of these cells in vivo.
Loss of IL-2 signaling results in autoimmunity. Laurence and colleagues show that the IL-2–STAT5 axis counteracts STAT3 activation of Il17 to dampen IL-17 production independently of Foxp3.
Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare syndrome. Casanova and colleagues characterize MSMD in two kindreds and find macrophage-tropic mutations in genes encoding the respiratory burst machinery predispose these kindreds to mycobacterial diseases.
Normal gut–immune system homeostasis requires interactions among epithelial cells, lymphocytes and host microflora. Ben-Neriah and colleagues show that defined microRNA expression in the gut mucosa is also important for maintaining gut integrity and homeostasis.
Secretory IgA protects mucosal surfaces. Honjo and colleagues show that somatic hypermutation of IgA dependent on the cytidine deaminase AID is necessary to maintain gut immune homeostasis and shapes the intestinal microflora population.
The migration of TH2 cells into allergy-affected tissue is key to maintaining the inflammatory response. CCR8-CCL8, a newly identified chemokine receptor–ligand pair, mediates the skin accumulation of TH2 cells with the specific potential to drive chronic eosinophilic inflammation.
Maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells depends on a fine-tuned transcriptional network. A detailed study of the nuclear adaptor Ldb1 provides additional clues as to how hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis is controlled.
Long-lived plasma cells require a specialized bone marrow microenvironment in order to survive and produce antibody. Eosinophils make an important contribution to maintaining this survival niche.