Volume 10 Issue 9, September 2010

Neutrophil serine proteases promote coagulation to prevent bacterial dissemination

KLF2 maintains B cell localization in the marginal zone and follicles of the spleen.

Type I interferons promote macrophage accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions.

Tumour-specific CD8⁺T cells are activated independently of the lymph node.

pDCs dampen inflammation by expanding T_Regcell populations in an antigen-specific manner.

NKT cells instruct CD8⁺thymocytes to adopt an innate-like phenotype.

Basophils mediate acquired immunity to ticks through IgE-dependent mechanisms.

AHR functions with MAF and other transcription factors to generate inducible regulatory T cells.

The behaviour of a T cell is moulded by numerous signals encountered during the T cell's life. This Review describes the current technologies that allow the fate and history of individual T cells to be monitored, providing insights into the kinship and prior functional activity of T cell subsets.

Virus infection in a wide range of eukaryotic host species results in the production of virus-derived small RNAs (such as small interfering RNAs) that specifically target the virus genome through RNA interference and related RNA silencing mechanisms. In this manner, virus-derived small RNAs mediate a form of antiviral immunity.

NFAT transcription factors are expressed by most immune cells and have critical roles in regulating immune responses. This Review describes recent insights into the NFAT-mediated regulation of distinct immune cells and details our increasing understanding of the importance of the NFAT family during tumorigenesis.

What factors determine the development of γδ versus αβ T lineage cells from common thymocyte progenitor cells? Here, the authors discuss the two prevailing models for γδ versus αβ T cell development and discuss recent evidence that supports a T cell receptor signal strength model for γδ T cell lineage specification.

This Review focuses on the earliest steps in the formation of lymphoid tissues during embryogenesis, describing the cellular and molecular requirements. The authors compare this with the development of lymphoid structures in mucosal tissues after birth and of tertiary lymphoid organs at sites of chronic inflammation.