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…
The adaptation of macrophages—the most common tissue-resident immune cells—to metabolic and microbial cues with high local variability is essential for the maintenance of organ integrity. In homeostasis, macrophages show largely predictable…
Communication between the nervous and immune systems is evolutionarily conserved. From primitive eukaryotes to higher mammals, neuroimmune communication utilizes multiple complex and complementary mechanisms to trigger effective but balanced responses …
Throughout biology, the pursuit of genotype-phenotype relationships has provided foundational knowledge upon which new concepts and hypotheses are built. Genetic perturbation, whether occurring naturally or in experimental settings, is the mainstay of …
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are evolutionarily conserved T cells that recognize microbial metabolites. They are abundant in humans and conserved during mammalian evolution, which suggests that they have important nonredundant functions….
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…
