Research Highlights in 2011

A potential new strategy to improve the therapeutic efficacy of targeting the type I IFN pathway in multiple sclerosis.

Intraendothelial chemokine-containing vesicles promote transendothelial T cell migration.

Intestinal epithelial cells switch from metabolic to immune functions in the absence of B cells.

Polymorphic NKG2D ligands regulate γδ Τ cell responses to tissue stress.

Intestinal dendritic cells make the requirements for T_H17 cell induction in the gut more stringent than in systemic tissues.

Invariant NKT cells can provide cognate help for B cell responses.

Hedgehog signalling protects against neuroinflammation.

Serious trauma in humans is associated with a genomic storm in leukocytes.

CD169⁺macrophages allow viral replication for the promotion of adaptive immunity.

Processing-independent activation of a TLR9 mutant overcomes self tolerance.

Regulatory T cells develop into memory populations that limit autoimmune attacks.

Platelets associate with Gram-positive bacteria to promote targeting to DCs.

A non-canonical inflammasome engages caspase 11, and this caspase (not caspase 1) promotes lethal septic shock.

Virus-infected lymph node macrophages are 'ignored' by naive T cells to ensure optimal T cell priming on infected DCs.

IL-17C promotes innate epithelial cell responses and T_H17 cell functions.

AHR ligands derived from cruciferous vegetables promote intestinal immune function.

Both the intestinal microbiota and self-antigen recognition drive autoimmune responses.

Three recent studies reveal different levels of control of skin inflammation.

Vitamin D is necessary for the IFNγ-induced antimicrobial response toM. tuberculosis.

Identification of human T memory stem cells with increased therapeutic potential.