Initially discovered for its role mediating the deleterious effects of environmental contaminants, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is now known to be a crucial regulator of the immune system. The expanding list of AHR ligands includes synthetic and…
The mucosal surfaces of the body are the most vulnerable points for infection because they are lined by single or multiple layers of very active epithelial cells. The main protector of these cells is the mucus system generated by the specialized goblet…
Prosurvival tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily (TNFRSF) members on T cells, including 4-1BB, CD27, GITR, and OX40, support T cell accumulation during clonal expansion, contributing to T cell memory. During viral infection,…
The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infections at a global level reflects the repeated emergence of variant strains encoding unique constellations of mutations. These variants have been generated principally because of a dynamic host immune landscape, the co…
Infections have imposed strong selection pressures throughout human evolution, making the study of natural selection’s effects on immunity genes highly complementary to disease-focused research. This review discusses how ancient DNA studies, which have…
Human Immune System (HIS) mice constructed with mature human immune cells or with human hematopoietic stem cells and thymic tissue have provided an important tool for human immunological research. In this article, we first review the different types of…
Regionalized immune surveillance relies on the concerted efforts of diverse memory T cell populations. Of these, tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are strategically positioned in barrier tissues, where they enable efficient frontline defense against…
The immune system and the kidneys are closely related. Immune components mediate acute kidney disease and are crucial to the progression of chronic kidney disease. Beyond its pathogenic functions, the immune system supports immunological homeostasis in…
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) represent a unique cell type within the innate immune system. Their defining property is the recognition of pathogen-derived nucleic acids through endosomal Toll-like receptors and the ensuing production of type I in…
Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins are iron-dependent and α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases that sequentially oxidize the methyl group of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC) and 5-carboxylcyto…
