The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 May 14;215(5):vkag070. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag070. ABSTRACT During the response to infections and pathogenic challenges, T cells must expand profoundly and be resilient to repetitive restimulation to clear the ongoing assault and protect the host. This process of prolific expansion is tightly regulated to quickly provide a robust pool of pathogen-fighting T cells, yet … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 May 14;215(5):vkag096. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag096. ABSTRACT Following acute viral infection, naïve CD4+ T cells differentiate into T helper 1 (Th1) and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. The transcription factor Ets1 represses Tfh cell formation and function following protein immunization; however, whether Ets1 regulates Tfh differentiation in viral infection is unclear. Here, we demonstrate … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag087. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag087. ABSTRACT Monotherapies for lupus nephritis (LN) often fail to fully control the disease’s hallmark, renal inflammation and immune complex deposition. This study investigates a novel combination therapeutic strategy using urolithin A (UA), a multifaceted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, with cyclosporine A (CsA), an established immunosuppressant. The combination therapy’s … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag093. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag093. ABSTRACT Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules present exogenous antigen-derived peptide to CD4+ T cells leading to T cell activation as well as signaling into the antigen-presenting cell. Class II is an αβ heterodimer that forms 2 distinct conformers via differential pairing of transmembrane domain GxxxG motifs (i.e. … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag076. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag076. ABSTRACT A large body of evidence indicates that Th17 cells play essential roles in mucosal immune responses and trigger autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis. Targeting Th17 cells holds promise for therapeutic innovation. While the core cytokine signaling networks driving Th17 differentiation have been … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag077. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag077. ABSTRACT Tissue-resident monocyte-lineage cells (TRMCs) are an extravascular population distinct from circulating monocytes and synovial macrophages and are critical for the development of inflammatory arthritis. However, the precise identities and origins of TRMC subpopulations remain unclear. Here, we characterize the ontogeny of TRMCs, which are comprised of bone … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag086. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag086. ABSTRACT Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as treatment for patients with leukemia relies on chemotherapy and/or irradiation-based conditioning regimens to prevent graft rejection and cancer relapse. Despite advances in radiotherapy, total body irradiation for myeloablative conditioning is associated with dose and temporal heterogeneity, and how these variables impact thymus … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag084. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag084. ABSTRACT Plasma cells (PCs) are terminally differentiated B cells that are long-lived and have high rates of protein secretion. Because of these features, ex vivo generated PCs are being developed as therapeutics for long-term protein delivery. Here, we used proteomics and flow cytometry-based approaches to comprehensively interrogate the … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag078. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag078. ABSTRACT Genetically modified chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells eliminate tumors by recognizing specific antigens on the cell surface. T cell ion channels (e.g. Kv1.3, KCa3.1) influence activation, proliferation, and effector functions such as target cell killing, through the regulation of Ca2+ signaling. We showed that CAR-expressing cells … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Apr 15;215(4):vkag081. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag081. ABSTRACT The innate immune system has evolved as the primary response mechanism against microbial infections, tissue damage, and cellular stress. Signals that disrupt homeostasis are sensed by pattern recognition receptors and initiate innate immune responses to restore homeostasis. Some intracellular pattern recognition receptors belonging to the Nod-like receptor, … Read more