Volume 10 Issue 12, December 2009

Data management has been neglected but should be made an integral activity in all research laboratories. Chaussabel and colleagues discuss how to implement this at the bench.

The differentiation of interleukin 17–producing helper T cells is controlled by a complex network of cytokines, signaling pathways and transcription factors. Regulation by microRNA particles can now be added to this list.

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (Nod2) is required for sensing of intracellular bacteria and subsequent inflammatory responses. Unexpectedly, new evidence suggests that Nod2 influences T helper cell signaling, proliferation and differentiation and effector responses against Toxoplasma gondii.

Antigen-driven selection in germinal centers lays the foundation of effective B cell memory. Two reports in this issue reveal novel mechanisms that control effective formation of germinal centers and their long-term persistence in vivo.

The interleukin 17 (IL-17) family includes six cytokines and five receptors. Garcia and co-workers solve the crystal structure of the receptor IL-17RA bound to IL-17F and suggest that IL-17RA may act as a shared subunit among multiple IL-17 receptor complexes.

Interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing helper T cells (T_H-17 cells) are associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Pei and colleagues have now identified a T_H-17 cell–associated microRNA, miR-326, whose expression correlates with disease severity in patients with multiple sclerosis and mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

The molecular mediators responsible for directing T helper type 2 (T_H2) differentiation remain incompletely defined. Dong and co-workers find that the transcription factor Dec2 promotes expression of the transcription factor JunB and is essential for the induction of T_H2 responses.

Nod2 senses intracellular bacteria and is required for their eradication. Nuñez and co-workers now describe a T cell–intrinsic role for Nod2 in combating the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

T cell activation triggers large calcium fluxes. Flavell and colleagues show tonic calcium signaling via Ca_v1.4-β3 channels are needed for the survival and homeostasis of naive CD8⁺ T cells.

High-affinity and isotype-switched antibodies arise from germinal center reactions. Goodnow and colleagues identify the Rho guanine nucleotide–exchange factor DOCK8 as being essential for sustained B cell immune synapse formation in germinal centers and mature antibody responses.

Immunization elicits B cell memory and short- and long-term antibody-secreting plasma cells. Weill and colleagues show that long-term IgM⁺ and IgG⁺ memory B cells can persist in germinal centers and undergo different fates after antigenic rechallenge.

The mitochondrial adaptor MAVS is necessary for the transmission of RIG-I and Mda5 antiviral signals. Jiang and colleagues show that PCBP2 negatively regulates MAVS stability by recruiting the L48-ubiquitinating enzyme AIP4, thereby preventing excessive cytokine responses.