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Here, the authors explore how the transcription factor T-bet shapes innate and adaptive immune responses during infection. They consider the evolutionary relationship between T-bet and the related transcription factor eomesodermin (EOMES) and explain how T-bet controls the development of effector and memory T cell populations that mediate protective immunity.
Developing universal influenza virus vaccines will require understanding how broad and long-lived antibody responses to natural infection with influenza A virus are generated, a topic that has benefited greatly from technologies that enable the analysis of single human B cells.
In this Review, Erika Pearce and colleagues detail the metabolic changes that occur in the tumour microenvironment, explaining how these shape immune cell function at these sites. They highlight the potential of targeting these metabolic pathways to treat patients with cancer
As in other immune cells, the metabolic pathways in natural killer (NK) cells must be configured to meet the demands of their effector functions. This Review describes the specific metabolic requirements for NK cell responses and how defects in NK cell metabolism may contribute to NK cell dysfunction in chronic disease.
Double-strand breaks in DNA generated during the normal assembly and diversification of lymphocyte antigen receptor genes or by genotoxic agents during infection activate DNA damage responses. Besides repairing damaged DNA, these responses trigger important signalling events that regulate immune cell development and function.
Recent advances in systems immunology are beginning to elucidate the quantitative rules that govern cytokine-mediated cell-to-cell communication. This Review describes how combining theoretical analysis with experimental validation can lead to a better understanding of cytokine-mediated communication between cells of the immune system.
In this Review, DeNardo and Ruffell describe how macrophages shape local immune responses in the tumour microenvironment to both suppress and promote immunity to tumours. The authors also discuss the potential of targeting tumour-associated macrophages to enhance antitumour immune responses.
By sensing environmental, dietary, microbial and metabolic cues, the ligand-activated transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor controls complex transcriptional programmes that are relevant to autoimmune, neoplastic, metabolic and degenerative diseases.
Diversification of the antibody repertoire is well known to be driven by genetic recombination and mutation. However, it is becoming apparent that other processes can also diversify antibody specificities. Here, Dimitrov and colleagues discuss these unconventional strategies for antibody diversification and consider why these extra strategies have evolved.
During an immune response, macrophage metabolism is diverted to produce the metabolite itaconate, which has anti-inflammatory effects. This Review recounts the story of itaconate, from its discovery to its potentially far-reaching consequences for immunity, host defence and tumorigenesis.
Different lineages of macrophages respond divergently to immune stimuli and microbial infection. This Review explores our current knowledge of how the different metabolic states of macrophage lineages impact the control or progression of intracellular bacterial infections.
The existence of four different serotypes of dengue virus poses a challenge to vaccine development, as pre-existing immunity can lead to severe disease during infection with a heterologous serotype. This Review analyses the mechanisms of protective and pathological adaptive immune responses in primary and secondary dengue infection.
This Review explains how innate sensors of DNA activate different types of programmed cell death. The authors consider the relevance of these cell death pathways during infection and in inflammatory diseases.
Dietary salt can have direct effects on immune cell subsets as well as indirect effects through intestinal dysbiosis. We are beginning to appreciate that high salt diets not only are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease but also have marked effects on immune responses.
Regulated calcium signalling, in particular downstream of the T cell receptor, is crucial for many T cell effector functions. This Review provides an overview of the numerous membrane and organellar calcium-permeable channels that are coordinated to fine-tune T cell immunity.
