Immune cell death articles from across Nature Portfolio

Identifying core mechanisms of immune cells is critical for understanding the evolution of animal immune function. Here, Vandepas et al. report that ctenophore immune-like cells release extracellular DNA traps when exposed to microbes.

Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are associated with tumourigenesis and therapy response. Here, the authors show that beta 2-adrenergic receptor activation in MDSC leads to metabolic rewiring which regulates chemotherapy response in preclinical models of blood cancer.

This study shows that NETosis is an auto-amplified process whereby NETotic neutrophils can induce secondary NETosis in proximal naïve neutrophils, resulting in spatial propagation of NETs.

The net effect of type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling on tumor control depends on various factors, including the potential engagement of adaptive anticancer immunity. New findings delineate a targetable epigenetic mechanism by which suboptimal IFN-I signaling promotes tumor progression in the context of cancer stem cell expansion and immunoevasion.

BAX and BAK are generally considered as fully interchangeable for mitochondrial permeabilization and consequent apoptotic cell death. Garcia-Saez and colleagues have recently documented striking kinetic differences that influence BAX and BAK oligomerization at the mitochondrial surface. These data have important implications for inflammatory responses driven by mitochondrial DNA.