Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2014

ThPOK, the critical transcription factor for differentiation of the helper T cell lineage in the thymus, continues to function as a gatekeeper to maintain helper T cell identity by repressing the transcription factor Runx3 in mature T cells.

Neutrophil function is perhaps best studied in bacterial infection, during which they are directly involved in pathogen killing. After helminth invasion, however, neutrophils acquire an alternative transcriptional profile that allows them to 'train' macrophages to acquire long-term protective features.

The transcriptional regulator Bcl-6 represses aerobic glycolysis in CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ type 1 helper T cells.

Transcriptional profiling of endothelial cells from diverse secondary lymphoid organs reveals distinctions that underlie their functional specification.

The ER stress response is a well-characterized process aimed at restoring ER function. Lambrecht et al. explore how ER stress can also intersect with the innate and adaptive immune response at multiple levels.

The clearance of apoptotic cells requires recognition by members of the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family. Lemke and colleagues show that the TAM receptors Mer and Axl have distinct functions in tolerance induction and proinflammatory responses, respectively.

Many tissue-resident macrophages are derived from embryonic precursors. Mowat and colleagues show that embryonic precursor cells seed gut tissues but at weaning transition to a bone marrow–derived macrophage population that requires continual replenishment.

The role of neutrophils in helminth infection has been relatively unclear. Gause and colleagues demonstrate that neutrophils are involved in the priming of an M2 macrophage response that mediates long-term protection against helminth infection.

The transcription factor ThPOK promotes CD4⁺ T cell differentiation in the thymus. Bosselut and colleagues show that ThPOK maintains CD4⁺ T lineage integrity and is required for proper T_H1 and T_H2 differentiation.

Cellular metabolism seems to dictate immune responses. Weinmann and colleagues show that the transcription factor Bcl-6 opposes the action of c-Myc and Hif-1α to suppress expression of genes encoding key glycolytic enzymes and transporters.

Senescent T cells have increased activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38. Akbar and colleagues show that such cells lack the canonical and alternative p38-activation pathways and instead induce kinase AMPK–dependent autophosphorylation of p38.

Naive B and T cells exist in discrete zones in lymph nodes. Turley and colleagues demonstrate that a distinct subset of fibroblastic reticular cells reside in B cell zones, where they sustain B cell survival by providing BAFF.

High endothelial vessels (HEVs) provide the conduit for blood-borne leukocytes to enter lymph nodes. Butcher and colleagues report transcriptional profiles of various endothelial cell populations that can explain functional differences of homing-molecule modifications.