Research Highlights

Copper(ii) ions promote the metabolic and epigenetic remodelling of macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory state. A copper-binding metformin dimer showed promising results in mouse models of inflammation.

Probiotic gut bacteria can translocate to and persist in melanomas where they stimulate antitumour CD8⁺ T cells through the production of immunomodulatory metabolites.

IgE-mediated activation of mast cells is linked to activation of the warm thermoregulatory neural circuit in mice.

Chronic stress in mice induces microbial dysbiosis and affects the differentiation of γδ T cells in the colon. These cells accumulate in the meninges and cause depression-like behaviour, which can be reversed by targeting the pattern recognition receptor dectin-1.

At high doses, the dietary sweetener sucralose interferes with T cell receptor signalling, impairing antitumour and antibacterial T cell responses in mice.

Fasting then re-feeding in mice causes monocyte disequilibrium and can affect host responses to pathogens.

Influenza viral infection trains mucosal-resident alveolar macrophages to confer long-lasting and tissue-specific immunity against subsequent lung tumours.

Choi et al. show that in mice with melanoma, immune checkpoint blockade therapy increases the translocation of live intestinal bacteria to extraintestinal sites through dendritic cell activation and lymph node remodelling.

The immune system in individuals with Down syndrome is characterized by steady state increases in cytokine expression, T cell activation, atypical B cell responses and the presence of numerous autoantibodies.

Although the aryl hydrocarbon receptor has an essential role in supporting homeostasis of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, its activation must be regulated to prevent oxidative stress and death of these cells.

A paper in Science Immunology describes the crucial features of agonist antibodies to the checkpoint molecule PD1.

Commensal-specific T cells promote the regeneration of damaged sensory nerves in the skin, through an IL-17-dependent pathway.

γδ T cells are important for responding to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in patients whose cancers have downregulated MHC class I expression.

A paper in Cell describes a role for regulatory T cells in mediating the symptoms of opioid withdrawal through effects on neuronal synapses.

In breast cancer, an effective response to therapy with immune checkpoint blockade depends on T cell–eosinophil collaboration: CD4⁺ T cells produce IL-5 to mobilize eosinophils, which in turn help to activate antitumour CD8⁺ T cell responses.

A core motif shared by self and microbial peptides is targeted by T cell receptors that are enriched in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The chemokine CXCL12 affects nuclear morphology in neutrophils, allowing these to pass through narrow spaces.

Single-cell analysis of the regenerative velvet skin covering reindeer antlers during periods of growth shows that interactions between fibroblasts and immune cells determine wound healing outcomes.

Accumulation of inhaled carbon particulates in lung-draining lymph nodes with age impairs respiratory immunity.

The RNA polymerase III subunit TFIIIA transcribes 5S ribosomal RNA pseudogenes that activate RIG-I. Mutations affecting TFIIIA impair antiviral immune responses and are associated with herpes simplex encephalitis.