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The recently deduced structures of amphioxus immune-like receptors provide new insights on what is actually required for antigen recognition by antigen receptors.
Many aspects of the CD8+ T lymphocyte response are 'programmed' by inductive stimuli during primary activation. A recent Nature paper shows that interleukin 2 signals endow CD8 T cells with the capacity for secondary population expansion during priming.
Although γδ T cells were discovered fortuitously more than 20 years ago, their development remains enigmatic. Genetic evidence now suggests that γδ T lymphocytes undergo intrathymic positive selection.
Networks of transcription factors regulate cell fate 'decisions'. The forkhead protein Foxp1 is now identified as a key regulator of B cell development that influences the expression of recombination-activating genes.
Viruses have evolved several strategies to subvert host defenses. New evidence indicates that herpes simplex virus 1 prevents glycolipid antigen presentation to natural killer T cells by downregulating CD1d expression.
Cooperation between dendritic cell subtypes and a newly identified function for interleukin 15 demonstrate the complexity surrounding the initial events required for effective antipathogen immunity.
The mechanisms governing natural killer cell development are not well understood. Activation of the tyrosine kinase receptors Tyro3, Axl and Mer on pre–natural killer cells by stromal cell–produced ligands now seems to be critical.
Cognate antigen triggers B cells to undergo antibody maturation and terminal differentiation into antibody-secreting plasma cells. The transcription factor IRF4, which is essential for early B cell development, is also influential at these later stages of B cell development and function.
The body responds to infections by rapidly 'ramping up' production of innate immune cells. New findings indicate that distinct transcription factors regulate 'basal' and 'emergency' leukocyte production.
Dendritic cells initiate immune responses but also influence regulatory T cell activity and homeostasis. Functional outcomes of dendritic cell–T cell interactions depend on the immunological context of their encounter.
Immune responses to bacterial infection occur by host cell detection of bacterial components. Monomeric flagellin can be elicited directly by host cells and then are 'sensed' by the cytosolic protein Ipaf.
The integrated stress response is a complex signaling pathway that regulates myriad cell processes, including protein translation, depending on the stress conditions. Primed CD4+ T helper cells may use this response system to optimize cytokine expression.
To prevent RNA virus–dependent tissue damage caused by interferon-regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)–induced type I interferons, proteasome-dependent destruction of IRF3 is orchestrated by the cytoplasmic prolyl isomerase Pin1.
T helper cells that produce interleukin 17 can promote a range of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Papers in Nature and Immunity suggest transforming growth factor-β promotes the differentiation of these pathogenic cells.
The resolution of immune responses typically leaves a population of memory T cells to respond to subsequent infection. The generation of 'memory-like' T cells can also occur during homeostatic proliferation, but are they 'true' memory cells?
NKp46, an activating receptor expressed on natural killer cells, protects from lethal influenza virus infection. Contrary to prevailing views, involvement of NKp46 in tumor immunity is uncertain.
B lymphocyte–induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1) is known as a 'master regulator' of plasma cell differentiation. New findings suggest that the influence of this transcription factor extends beyond the B cell lineage.
Contact hypersensitivity is a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity, a classic T cell–mediated, clinically important phenomenon. Unexpectedly, a new study indicates that natural killer cells may mediate contact hypersensitivity and demonstrate adaptive, memory-like activity.
