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Researchers gathered in Paris at the first European Molecular Biology Organization conference devoted to innate lymphoid cells and discussed recent advances to further understanding of the development, regulation and function of these intriguing cells.
Virus-triggered type I interferon induces the lysine methyltransferase Setdb2; this then generates repressive histone marks on the promoters of genes encoding molecules important for antibacterial immunity. This process can contribute to influenza virus–associated bacterial superinfection.
Ligation of the Toll-like receptor TLR7 in human CD4+ T cells elicits an anergic state that may contribute to CD4+ T cell hyporesponsiveness after infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and may also enhance propagation of this virus.
T cells with increased self-reactivity and marked by high expression of the negative regulator CD5 differ in gene-expression patterns and are poised for greater bursts of proliferation when they encounter foreign antigens.
The lungs are the main site of entry for most viral pathogens. In this Focus Review, Chiu and Openshaw discuss adaptive immune responses to lung-tropic viruses and implications for vaccine development.
Much of the research on lung immunology has concentrated on classic hematopoietically derived cells of the immune system. In this Focus Review, Alenghat and Whitsett discuss the key innate immunological functions of the respiratory epithelium.
The lungs hosts their own unique populations of macrophages and dendritic cells. In this Focus Review, Kopf, Schneider and Nobs discuss the development and maintenance of these populations in the lungs.
Asthma is typically thought to be a consequence of overreactive type II responses. In this Focus Review, Lambrecht and Hammad discuss the latest thinking on the etiology of asthma and the importance of alternative mechanisms such as ILC2, TH9 and TH17 cells.
Mycobacterial tuberculosis remains a disease of major importance. In this Focus Review, Orme, Robinson and Cooper discuss lung immune responses to mycobacteria and describe how the bacterium can manipulate host immunity to its own ends.
Infection with influenza virus can result in bacterial superinfection, but the mechanisms underlying this process are unclear. Bergthaler and colleagues demonstrate that influenza virus upregulates the methyltransferase Setdb2, which attenuates select proinflammatory gene expression and heightens susceptibility to bacterial infection.
Lymph nodes expand after an inflammatory challenge to accommodate their increased cellularity. Turley and colleagues show that fibroblastic reticular cells regulate this expansion process through the interaction of podoplanin with its receptor CLEC-2 expressed on incoming dendritic cells.
iNKT cells in adipose tissue are anti-inflammatory. Brenner and colleagues show that adipose iNKT cells have a unique transcriptional program, produce IL-2 and IL-10 and lack expression of the transcription factor PLZF.
Follicular helper and follicular regulatory T cells require the transcription factor Bcl-6 for differentiation. Cantor and colleagues show that intracellular osteopontin protects Bcl-6 from degradation downstream of signaling via the receptor ICOS in both subsets of T cells.
Thymic selection produces a diverse T cell repertoire. Jameson and colleagues demonstrate intrinsic differences in the ability of naive CD8+ T cells to respond to foreign antigen, such that cells with higher self-reactivity dominate the immune response.
The role of TLRs in CD4+ T cells is poorly understood. Hafler and colleagues demonstrate that ligation of TLR7 initiates an anergic program in CD4+ T cells and might have implications for HIV infection.
The lungs are usually the first site of exposure to pathogens. To counter this imminent threat, the lungs have their own large and complex system of cells of the immune system. A series of five Reviews specially commissioned by Nature Immunologydiscusses all key aspects of lung immunology. In collaboration with Arkitek Studios, Nature Immunology has also produced an animation that delineates the complexities of the lung immune system in health and disease. Produced with support from Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson Animation by Arkitek studios
