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The cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G has an important intrinsic antiviral function. Collins and colleagues show that APOBEC3G can also trigger a protective natural killer cell response by damaging host DNA.
Colonic patches and isolated lymphoid follicles are lymphoid tissues that exist in the intestine. Ouyang and colleagues show that interleukin 22 maintains these structures and contributes to gut immune defenses during infection.
T cell activation is tightly regulated by various regulatory mechanisms. Sun and co-workers show that the ubiquitin ligase Peli1 contributes to the maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance by negatively regulating the transcription factor c-Rel.
The transcription factor E2A and Id proteins play antagonistic roles. Murre and colleagues show Id3 expression increases after the pre-TCR checkpoint and is required to maintain the naïve T cell phenotype.
Lymphatic vessels provide conduits that channel leukocytes to draining lymph nodes. Förster and colleagues show that lymph-derived dendritic cells and T cells take different paths to enter draining lymph nodes.
The DNA-binding factor SATB1 is known as a chromatin organizer. Schultze and colleagues show regulation of SATB1 expression by the transcription factor Foxp3 is necessary to confer suppression of effector cell activity.
Interleukin 17 promotes antibacterial and antifungal immune defenses. Hamilton and colleagues show that it induces complexes of the adaptors Act1 and TRAF2 or TRAF5 that inhibit the mRNA-destabilizing action of the splicing factor SF2 (ASF), thereby prolonging the half-life of chemokine and cytokine mRNAs.
The adaptor Act1 links the interleukin 17 receptor to downstream signaling pathways. Li and colleagues show that phosphorylation of Act1 by the kinase IKKi is necessary for recruitment of the adaptors TRAF2 and TRAF5 and activation of the pathway of mitogen-activated protein kinases.
The tryptophan-catalytic activity of IDO in dendritic cells is known to regulate immune responses. Grohmann and co-workers show that IDO also functions as an intracellular signal transducer in response to transforming growth factor-β.
The generation of CD8+ T cell memory requires both CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells. Schoenberger et al. show that autocrine production of interleukin 2 by licensed CD8+ T cells is also crucial.
In contrast to microbial natural killer T cell ligands, self glycolipid antigens are β-linked. Rossjohn and co-workers provide the mechanism for the autoreactivity of natural killer T cell antigen receptors toward β-glycosylated agonists.
MicroRNAs contribute to post-transcriptional controls that fine-tune protein expression. Cao and colleagues identify the microRNA miR-29 as a regulator of the expression of interferon-γ protein and show that intracellular infection with pathogens dampens miR-29 expression.
The deubiquitinase A20 limits excessive cytokine expression by shutting down activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Harhaj and colleagues show that the kinase IKKα activates the A20 ubiquitin-editing complex by phosphorylating the regulatory molecule TAX1BP1.
Immune quiescence is sustained through a tightly regulated but poorly understood process. Chi and colleagues show that the tumor suppressor Tsc1 is essential in maintaining T cell quiescence.
Identifying molecular predictors of effective vaccination is an important clinical and technical goal. Pulendran and colleagues use a systems biology approach to study human responses to vaccination against influenza and determine the correlates of immunogenicity.
The protein isomerase Pin1 regulates the conformational state of signaling proteins. Lu and colleagues show that Pin1 has an essential role in Toll-like receptor signaling by regulating the adapter IRAK1.
Ly6C– monocytes patrol blood vessels by crawling along uninflamed vasculature. Hedrick and colleagues show that the transcription factor NR4A1 is required for the development and survival of Ly6C– monocytes.
The orphan nuclear receptor SHP is a transcriptional corepressor in the liver. Jo and colleagues show that it also acts to negatively regulate Toll-like receptor signaling at multiple levels.
MicroRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Pagani and colleagues identify specific microRNA signatures and their target genes in various human lymphoid subsets.
Neutrophils migrate into tissues as innate immune responders. Nourshargh and colleagues demonstrate that neutrophils can migrate in the reverse direction in vivo under inflammatory conditions and may contribute to the dissemination of systemic inflammation.