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Quorum sensing is the regulation of gene expression programmes in response to changes in population density. It is probably best recognized as a mechanism through which bacterial communities can synchronize behaviours, such as biofilm formation and bioluminescence. This Comment article highlights the emerging evidence suggesting that quorum sensing also contributes to the regulation of immune cell responses.
Macrophage priming by inflammatory stimuli drives the new synthesis and oxidation of mitochondrial DNA, which is essential for NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
A regulatory B cell subset has been identified that is characterized by the expression of LAG3. In response to TLR stimulation, these LAG3+ B cells produce IL-10.
Jeffrey Bluestone describes a 1987 study of anergic T cells by Marc Jenkins and Ron Schwartz that altered his thoughts about T cell tolerance and eventually gave birth to the field of checkpoint inhibition.
Two papers published in Nature introduce a new subset of medullary thymic epithelial cells with properties similar to intestinal tuft cells, including IL-25 production and chemosensing ability.
Lionel Ivashkiv discusses new insight into the functions of IFNγ and summarizes our current understanding of IFNγ receptor signalling. In particular, the author focuses on recent studies on how IFNγ influences autoimmunity, immunometabolism, neurological diseases and cancer immunotherapy.
Here, the authors examine the functions of different subsets of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. They explain how iNKT cells contribute to tissue homeostasis and protection against infection, with a focus on the liver, intestine, lungs and adipose tissue.
Resisters are individuals who show resistance to infection despite long-term, high exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this Review, Simmons and colleagues discuss potential mechanisms underlying this resistance, such as those mediated by macrophages, T cells and B cells, and how an understanding of these mechanisms might aid in the development of therapies for tuberculosis.
Most candidate vaccines for tuberculosis are designed to boost cell-mediated immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the intracellular bacterium that causes the disease. This Opinion article considers the rationale for also harnessing antibody-mediated immunity in future tuberculosis vaccines.
