Articles in 2016

The SOCS family member CIS is a crucial negative regulator of IL-15-induced signalling in NK cells.

Structural and functional similarities between the cytolytic synapses formed by CD8⁺T cells and primary cilia are shedding new light on the mechanisms and order of events of synapse formation.

Maternally derived commensal-specific IgG helps to limit mucosal T cell responses in neonates.

Mice lacking CARD9 have altered microbiota with impaired tryptophan metabolism and therefore increased susceptibility to colitis.

Neutrophils follow a multitude of signals to reach sites of injury or infection. Understanding how this occurs and what the fate of these neutrophils is provides insight into how immune responses are controlled and chronic inflammation is avoided. In this Review, the authors describe the movement of neutrophils during inflammation.

The microbiota and host immune system engage in a complex crosstalk that is being increasingly revealed thanks to advances in technological and computational approaches. Here, the authors highlight some of the microbial metabolites and components that are vital for immune system development and homeostasis.

The skin is home to diverse microbial communities that constantly interact with host epithelial and immune cells. In this Review, the authors summarize how the skin microbiota can control innate and adaptive immunity to skin pathogens, as well as its influence on skin inflammatory diseases.

HOBIT and BLIMP1 identified as universal regulators of tissue residency in lymphocytes.

The innate immune receptor LILRA2 (leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily A member 2) senses microbially cleaved immunoglobulin.

The Fanconi anaemia DNA repair pathway also has cytoplasmic functions in selective autophagy that might contribute to an inflammatory pathology of Fanconi anaemia disease.

Exposing mice to a dirty environment helps to 'humanize' their immune system.

Clinical evidence, including results from randomized controlled clinical trials, strongly suggests that certain live vaccines can reduce all-cause mortality, most probably through protection against non-targeted pathogens. This Opinion article examines the potential immunological mechanisms underlying these effects.

Steven Ziegler describes a 1986 study by Mossmannet al. that defined two subsets of T helper cells on the basis of their activities.

Asymmetric distribution of metabolic pathway components sustains differential CD8⁺T cell fates.

Cyclodextrin promotes atherosclerosis regression through oxysterol-mediated, LXR-dependent macrophage reprogramming.

Biological scaffolds create an immune microenvironment that is favourable for tissue regeneration.

In this Review, the authors describe the diversity and characteristics of tissue-resident human natural killer cells, with focus on those found in the liver, uterus and lungs. They also discuss important unresolved questions and future challenges in the field.

This Review details the key roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating immune cell development and function. The authors describe how miRNAs govern cell fate decisions during haematopoiesis and discuss how aberrant miRNA expression can lead to pathologies such as autoimmunity and cancer.

Akiko Iwasaki describes a 1980 study by Halleret al. that revealed a limitation of using inbred mice to study antiviral responses.