Phagocytes

Immune cells can promote the thermogenic phenotype of white adipocytes during cold exposure, in a process known as ‘browning’ or ‘beiging’. Wang et al. now reveal a potential mechanism whereby alternatively activated macrophages prompt adipose sympathetic nerve fibres to release norepinephrine and promote adipocyte beiging.

The retention of erythroid mitochondria, a feature associated with impairments in the ubiquitin–proteasome system, is detected in a subset of pediatric patients with lupus and is associated with the type I interferon pathway.

Dysfunctional efferocytosis impairs clearance of apoptotic cells in disease. A new study shows that glutamine catabolism supports efficient apoptotic cell efferocytosis via non-canonical glutamine transamination but not canonical GLUD1-dependent α-ketoglutarate production, in a process that may operate in human atherosclerosis.

The lung endothelial cell–derived angiocrine Rspondin3 activates Wnt–β-catenin signaling in interstitial macrophages, leading to a metabolic–epigenetic reprogramming of interstitial macrophages that drives anti-inflammatory responses and attenuates endotoxin-induced lung injury.

Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) promote immune defenses against infectious agents. Two studies reveal that GBP1 directly binds to cytosolic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), bringing caspase-4 to the surface of bacteria to induce pyroptosis.

The partial depletion of red blood cells via the administration of a low dose of anti-erythrocyte antibodies increases the circulation half-life of nanomedicines, as shown in rodent models of cancer.