The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag105. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag105. ABSTRACT Modulation of T cell receptor (TCR) sensitivity during positive selection is critical to avoid negative selection and direct thymocytes into their appropriate lineage. Thymocytes just prior to positive selection (preselection) are highly responsive to low affinity self-ligands and are also actively rearranging their TCRα locus as they … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag113. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag113. ABSTRACT N-linked glycosylation (N-glyc) sites (N-X-S/T, X≠P) can be introduced by somatic hypermutation in immunoglobulin Fab regions. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies have a striking overrepresentation of Fab N-glycosylation. To further explore this, we sequenced B cell receptors (BCRs) from peripheral blood of 13 … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag101. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag101. ABSTRACT Efficient tissue regeneration requires the precise coordination of inflammatory and regenerative programs, principally mediated by monocyte-derived macrophages. However, the transcriptional wiring and epigenomic processes behind complex macrophage subtype specification and transition between the different states are not known. Here we have identified the transcriptional repressor BACH1 as … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag110. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag110. ABSTRACT The cytokines interleukin (IL)-22 and IL-17 are secreted by innate and adaptive immune cells to drive “type III” responses that protect against extracellular pathogens, promote mucosal barrier integrity, and foster microbiota homeostasis. However, dysregulation of IL-22 and/or IL-17 contributes to autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and malignancy. Thus, a … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag091. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag091. ABSTRACT Viral or tumor persistence is often associated with CD8 T cell “exhaustion,” a differentiation process characterized by co-inhibitory receptor upregulation and loss of effector function. Recent data show that “exhausted” T cells are a heterogenous population that includes a progenitor subset that transitions through an intermediate state … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag074. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag074. ABSTRACT Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines effectively induce protective immunity, but antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses exhibit limited persistence. In this study, we aimed to assess CD8+ T cell responses following a third dose of the Pfizer BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine and identify factors contributing to their longevity. Using HLA … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag130. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag130. ABSTRACT Sepsis is the leading cause of death in hospitals and is very common in intensive care units (ICUs). Sleep is frequently interrupted in the hospital setting, especially within the ICU. Patients who sleep poorly have worse outcomes, such as increased mortality and longer hospital stays; however, the … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag124. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag124. ABSTRACT Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are thought to develop in the bone marrow and fetal liver. However, increasing evidence supports the presence of thymic ILC2s in mice and humans. In this study, we introduce a novel fate-mapping mouse model designed to track thymic ILC2s in peripheral … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag117. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag117. ABSTRACT Mucosal immunity is paramount for combating respiratory infections, but conventional vaccination methods, such as intramuscular injection, often struggle to induce it. Although direct mucosal vaccination is effective, it carries an increased risk of respiratory adverse effects, making it particularly challenging for individuals with chronic respiratory diseases. Consequently, … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag122. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag122. ABSTRACT Interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins underpin antiviral responses, yet their role in bacterial infections remains underexplored, particularly for parasites. We probed the role of IFITM1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), and Leishmania major infection using IFITM1 knockout mice. Notably, IFITM1 was upregulated in murine and human … Read more