The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag276. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag276. ABSTRACT CTLA-4 is an inhibitory receptor on T cells that limits immune activation by competing with the co-stimulatory receptor CD28 for binding to CD80 and CD86 on antigen-presenting cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) employ CTLA-4-mediated transendocytosis as a key suppressive mechanism. Several CTLA4 polymorphisms are associated with autoimmune … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag270. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag270. ABSTRACT HLA-A*02:01-restricted PB1413+CD8+ T cells provide the broadest reported cross-reactive immunity against influenza A, B, and C viruses. Here, we investigated T cell receptor (TCR) clonotypic signatures within these universal A2/PB1413+CD8+ T cell pools, compared with immunodominant influenza A-specific M158+CD8+ T cells and codominant influenza B-specific A2/HA543+CD8+ memory … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag268. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag268. ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be mediated by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II-restricted autoreactive CD4 T cells producing interleukin (IL)-17A and/or interferon γ (IFNγ), but the necessity of these cytokines for disease pathogenesis is unclear. Utilizing HLA-DR3 (DRβ1*0301) transgenic mice lacking IFNγ or IL-17A in … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag267. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag267. ABSTRACT Manganese ions (Mn2+) are potent immunomodulatory agents that activate the cGAS-STING pathway. While their role as acute adjuvants is well-documented, the innate immune memory (trained immunity) signatures induced by Mn2+ remain unexplored. Using an in vitro priming-rest-challenge model, we demonstrate that transient Mn2+ stimulation induces a persistent … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag250. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag250. ABSTRACT B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL) is driven by a combination of genetic alterations that promote invasion and expansion of undifferentiated B cells. Mice that express a NUP98::HOXD13 (NHD13) fusion gene in hematopoietic cells develop a wide range of hematologic malignancy, and when crossed to … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag187. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag187. ABSTRACT CD8+ T cells directly target and kill cancer cells and are required for effective antitumor immunity. However, CD8+ T cells may become dysfunctional when exposed to chronic antigen stimulation during cancer. Dysfunction is characterized by reduced proliferation, increased expression of inhibitory receptors, and impaired effector function, yet … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag258. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag258. ABSTRACT Determining how chemotherapeutic drugs alter the MHC class I-associated immunopeptidome is essential for designing rational combinatorial therapies to enhance antitumor CD8+ T-cell activity, such as immune checkpoint inhibitor Abs. We investigated the impact of a first-in-class inhibitor of cellular NEDDylation, MLN4924, on self-peptide presentation using 2 human … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag266. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag266. ABSTRACT This study assessed the role that natural killer (NK) cells play in a murine model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike mRNA vaccination. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that mRNA vaccination results in recruitment and maturation of NK cells in the spleen. Primed (CD27+ CD11b+) … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag249. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag249. ABSTRACT Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are a pivotal component of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in hematologic malignancies. Through diverse mechanisms, they promote disease progression, therapeutic resistance, and immune evasion. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the roles of myeloid-derived suppressor cells across major hematologic cancers and evaluates their … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Oct 1;215(10):vkag234. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag234. ABSTRACT Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) therapy, targeting Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2, have revolutionized cancer care. However, ICPI is linked to immune-related adverse events, including nephropathy manifesting as acute kidney injury (AKI), a rapid decline in kidney function, often progressing to … Read more