Research Highlights in 2018

The mechanism of epigenetic modification of primed immune genes during β-glucan-induced trained immunity is shown to involve the function of the long non-coding RNA UMLILO within topologically associating domains of chromosome loops.

Probiotic microorganisms such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus can protect from bone loss by enhancing levels of butyrate, which leads to the expansion of regulatory T cells. These stimulate CD8⁺ T cells to secrete WNT10b, a bone anabolic factor.

A combination of radiotherapy and anti-CTLA4 checkpoint blockade in anti-CTLA4 unresponsive patients with non-small-cell lung cancer induced systemic T cell responses in some patients, likely through radiotherapy-induced upregulation of neoantigens.

Targeting GM-CSF in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation could prevent graft-versus-host disease while maintaining graft-versus-leukaemia responses.

Uptake of apoptotic cell corpses by phagocytes requires the coordinated activity of SLC family membrane transporters to meet the metabolic demands of anti-inflammatory dead cell clearance.

The ESCRT machinery is recruited to gasdermin D pores following inflammasome activation and repairs damaged membrane areas to prevent cell death.

Nanoparticles designed to prevent training of myeloid cells infiltrating allografts can promote long-term transplant acceptance and immunological tolerance.

Gut dysbiosis and intestinal leakage during ageing trigger an inflammatory monocyte–B1 B cell axis that induces insulin resistance.

Eukaryotic translation initiation complex eIF4F is identified as an upstream regulator of PD-L1 expression and is therefore a promising target for immunotherapy.

The gut microbiota and intestinal immune cells profoundly affect each other, an interaction that can be manipulated with antibiotics and probiotics.

Using spiky microparticles, the authors show that physical cues, such as topological features on the surface of a pathogen, can trigger an immune response by exerting mechanical stress on immune cells.

CD4⁺ T cell cytokines in the intestinal crypts balance intestinal stem cell renewal and differentiation.

Transcriptomics used to map variation in innate immune responses across species.

Two studies describe distinct mechanisms of resistance to anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in relapsed leukaemia patients

This study demonstrates that secreted IgD promotes protective humoral responses to soluble antigens such as food allergens.

A new guide to immunopharmacology seeks to bring the most valuable pharmacological data into the hands of immunology researchers.

Neutrophil extracellular traps awaken dormant cancer cells by remodelling the extracellular matrix.

The long non-coding RNA NKILA sensitizes antitumour T cells to activation-induced cell death. Targeting this pathway can improve adoptive T cell therapy for cancer.

A quorum-sensing mechanism downregulates tissue inflammation by regulating metabolism in monocyte-derived cells.

Besides cholesterol lowering, statins boost antigen presentation and adaptive immune responses, suggesting new uses as adjuvants for cancer immunotherapy.