Acting alongside MHC proteins, which present peptide antigens, the CD1 system displays lipid antigens to T cells. Recent studies have defined two general mechanisms of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to human CD1a, CD1b, CD1c, and CD1d proteins. The clas…

Humans are metaorganisms, composed of both host (human) cells and a roughly equal number of commensal microorganisms—collectively known as the microbiome—residing primarily at epithelial barrier surfaces. This review considers human cancer …

A wide variety of suppressive pathways have been investigated in efforts to understand the basis for immune tolerance. Although the contribution of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to self-tolerance has been extensively studied, less attention has been …

“I appeared as a dewdrop, and disappearing as it is. All of my beloved Naniwa (Osaka) is just a dream of dreams.” This quote is the funeral ode of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who is regarded as a “Great Unifier of Japan” for his role be…

The cGAS-cGAMP-STING pathway is essential for immune defense against pathogens. Upon binding DNA, cGAS synthesizes cGAMP, which activates STING, leading to potent innate immune effector responses. However, lacking specific features to distinguish betwe…

Catch bonds are molecular bonds that last longer under force than slip bonds, which become shorter-lived under force. Although catch bonds were initially discovered in studies of leukocyte and bacterial adhesions two decades ago, they have since been f…

The central nervous system (CNS) has a unique set of macrophages that seed the tissue early during embryonic development. Microglia reside in the parenchyma, and border-associated macrophages are present in border regions, including the meninges, periv…

As the site of gas exchange, the lung is critical for organismal survival. It is also subject to continual environmental insults inflicted by pathogens, particles, and toxins. Sometimes, these insults result in structural damage and the initiation of a…

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lower respiratory tract. The effectiveness of the host immune response determines the severity of infection, or whether pneumonia occurs at all. The lungs house both innate and adaptive immune systems,…

Humanized mice, which carry a human hematopoietic and immune system, have greatly advanced our understanding of human immune responses and immunological diseases. These mice are created via the transplantation of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor…