The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag155. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag155. ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus (SA), the most common cystic fibrosis (CF) respiratory pathogen, is uniquely capable of producing superantigen (SAg) exotoxins, which are recognized as the most potent activators of the immune system and inducers of inflammation. Although a high frequency of CF SA isolates can produce SA-SAgs, their … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag140. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag140. ABSTRACT Acute lung injury (ALI) is a fulminant respiratory failure syndrome with no targeted therapy. We show that Inhba is sharply upregulated in the damaged lung tissue of mice and in BEAS-2B cells, and its abundance tracks with cytokine storm and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanistically, AKT activation … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag164. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag164. ABSTRACT Memory CD8 T cells respond rapidly upon antigen re-encounter and are considered advantageous for protective immunity. However, they undergo a swift decline under chronic antigen stimulation. In this study, we found that memory CD8 T cells’ heightened activation sensitivity promotes terminal differentiation and impairs the formation of … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag177. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag177. ABSTRACT In humans, infection with Chlamydia trachomatis can result in chronic infection with severe reproductive consequences. The immune response elicited by natural infection fails to protect against reinfection and can contribute to tissue inflammation and damage. CD4+ T cells are key mediators of protection against C. trachomatis. However, … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag145. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag145. ABSTRACT Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical guardians of immune homeostasis that must operate in diverse and often inflammatory conditions. However, the mechanisms that Tregs use to maintain their stability and function, especially in response to the stresses of distinct microenvironments, remain incompletely understood. Previous work identified the … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag115. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag115. ABSTRACT Inhalation of house dust mite-derived allergens is a major factor leading to the development of asthma both in children and adults. Allergens stimulate Ca2+-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine gene expression through the opening of ORAI1 Ca2+ channels in the surface membrane of various immune cell-types within the … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag161. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag161. ABSTRACT Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) arises when trigeminal sensory dysfunction reduces corneal sensation and compromises epithelial maintenance. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) establishes latency in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and is a common trigger of acquired NK, yet the host programs that determine whether inflamed ganglia recover or … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag131. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag131. ABSTRACT Type I interferons (IFNs) are central antiviral cytokines in vertebrates, yet the mechanisms underlying their functional diversification in early vertebrates remain unclear. Teleost fish, whose IFN repertoires expanded through whole-genome duplication, provide a powerful model to address this question. Here, we systematically characterize grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag136. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag136. ABSTRACT Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are capable suppressors of aberrant self-reactivity. However, how differences in affinity and specificity may support Treg function compared with autoimmune T cell function remains unresolved. In this study, we analyzed the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires of the regulatory and effector T … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jun 7;215(6):vkag132. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag132. ABSTRACT The finTRIM (FTR) subfamily, a group of fish-specific tripartite motif proteins, has arisen through gene duplication events specific to particular genera or species. However, the regulatory mechanisms of FTR in antiviral immune response remains largely unknown. In the present study, we identified a fish novel tripartite motif … Read more