Research Highlights in 2015

Single-cell RNA sequencing identifies T helper 17 cell heterogeneity and regulators of pathogenicity.

An intronic element ofFoxp3 facilitates the selection of T_Regcells with a diverse TCR repertoire for effective self-tolerance.

T cell receptor-stimulated regulatory T cells cluster with self-reactive T cells to receive signals from interleukin-2 and maintain immune homeostasis.

Two papers inSciencepresent evidence in mice that certain species of intestinal bacteria can drive antitumour immune responses and modulate responses to immune checkpoint blockade.

An early innate immune response is induced at the epithelium during viral infections, independently of interferons.

Tolerance to commensal skin microorganisms relies on early bacterial colonization and an influx of regulatory T cells into neonatal skin.

SOCS family member CISH hushes T cell receptor signalling and limits tumour killing.

Oestrogen receptor-β promotes immune evasion of endometriotic tissue by blocking TNF-induced apoptosis and enhancing inflammasome activity.

Researchers design switchable therapeutic T cells that can be remotely activated by a small-molecule drug.

Inhibition of epigenetic modifiers in ovarian cancer cells blocks cancer progression and improves immunotherapy.

Dietary long-chain fatty acids enhance the differentiation of T_H1 and T_H17 cells in the gut, which worsens disease in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis.

Smoking promotes pathogenic T_H17 cell responses by inducing the expression of miR-22 in myeloid cells.

B cells expressing GM-CSF activate myeloid cells to drive T cell-mediated multiple sclerosis.

Acute infection can lead to chronic lymphadenopathy and long-term immune impairment.

The kinases MST1 and MST2, which are activated by Toll-like receptor stimulation, regulate the trafficking of mitochondria to phagosomes to deliver reactive oxygen species.

RIPK1 and NF-κB signalling in dying cells are necessary for CD8⁺T cell cross-priming.

The microbiota drives ageing and the acquisition of pro-inflammatory functions in circulating neutrophils.

Perforin-positive dendritic cells protect against metabolic syndrome and autoimmunity.

Stimulation of naive CD4⁺T cells in glutamine-deprived conditions favours differentiation into regulatory T cells.

Neutrophils guide CD8⁺T cells into virus-infected tissue by leaving a trail of membrane particles enriched for CXCL12.