The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 17;215(3):vkaf372. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf372. ABSTRACT Microscale engagement of the hemi-immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-containing receptor Dectin-1 by fungal particles activates Src-family kinases (SFKs) and Syk, drives second-messenger generation, and induces downstream Erk and Akt signaling and proinflammatory responses in macrophages. To avoid inappropriate activation in the absence of a pathogenic threat, macrophages restrict … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 17;215(3):vkag039. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag039. ABSTRACT Co-inhibitory receptors are essential checkpoints to restrain excessive T cell activation. While PD1 and CTLA4 have been extensively studied, the biology of lymphocyte activation gene 3 (Lag3), an emerging target for checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, remains less understood. In this study, we show that Lag3, though largely intracellular … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 17;215(3):vkag016. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag016. ABSTRACT Neutrophils infiltrate lesional skin robustly in individuals with psoriasis. However, their role in chronically inflamed skin-particularly in terms of phenotypic and functional diversity-remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the functional potential of 2 distinct circulating neutrophil populations-conventional, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (cNeu) and low-density neutrophils (LDNeu)-to infiltrate … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 17;215(3):vkag021. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag021. ABSTRACT Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a serious threat to the lives of adults. Differentially expressed miRNAs play a crucial regulatory role in CAP. This study aims to explore the diagnostic and prognostic significance of miR-4492 in CAP and its possible mechanism of action with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkag023. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag023. ABSTRACT While multiple sclerosis research has long centered on focal demyelinating lesions, it is increasingly recognized that there are distinct, surface-in gradients of diffuse pathology that exist in regions abutting the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), such as the subpial cortex and periventricular parenchyma. While subpial pathology is thought to … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkaf267. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf267. ABSTRACT The skull bone marrow (sBM) is a hematopoietic site intimately connected to the dura mater-the outermost layer of the meninges that surround the central nervous system (CNS)-via vascular channels that enable trafficking of immune cells and sampling of cerebrospinal fluid. sBM-derived cells directly access the dura under … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkaf321. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf321. ABSTRACT The retina is a central nervous system tissue with immune-privileged status, protected by the blood-retina barrier and maintained by specialized resident tissue macrophages: microglia, hyalocytes, and perivascular macrophages. These cells exhibit specific ontogeny, spatial localization, and immunologic functions. Each population contributes to homeostasis, phagocytosis, and immunoregulation in … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkaf344. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf344. ABSTRACT The outer layer of the meninges, the dura mater, forms a critical interface at the border of the central nervous system (CNS). While historically the dura was viewed as a protective physical barrier for the brain and spinal cord, providing structural support for the venous sinuses, more … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkaf337. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf337. ABSTRACT Body-brain neuroimmune signaling is important for maintaining homeostasis and behavior. Dysregulation of these interoceptive communication pathways leads to compromised physical and mental health often associated with psychiatric disorders. Specialized interoceptive nodes considered as “gateways” to the brain offer an interface for communication with the periphery to aid … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 25;215(S3):vkaf308. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf308. ABSTRACT Subdural central nervous system (CNS)-associated macrophages (CAMs), encompassing macrophages of the leptomeninges and perivascular spaces, serve as the primary immune sentinels at the CNS interfaces. These cells have been suggested to be indispensable for maintaining homeostasis and orchestrating responses in pathological states. Under physiological conditions, CAMs continuously … Read more