The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Mar 17;215(3):vkaf361. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf361. ABSTRACT Infants are significantly more susceptible to respiratory infection, often resulting in increased morbidity and hospitalization, and occasionally death. This susceptibility is partially explained by the developing nature of the thymus in human infants at-and for several months after-birth. However, the contribution of T cells produced in this … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf304. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf304. ABSTRACT Viral infections remain a challenge to aquaculture, resulting in severe economic losses and threatening fish health worldwide. As a key immunomodulatory and antiviral factor, interferon (IFN) plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses. We constructed a high-level expression strain of recombinant interferon (Rec-IFN) using Synechococcus sp. … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf366. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf366. ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human γ-herpesvirus that establishes latency and lifelong infection in B cells. Failure to control latent EBV infection can result in a variety of malignancies, including lymphoproliferative diseases. Studies have implicated natural killer (NK) cells as critical in the host defense against lytic … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf368. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf368. ABSTRACT Negative T-cell regulation through programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) ligation is well described during viral infection; however, our understanding of the contribution of PD-L1-intrinsic signaling to antiviral immunity is limited. Herein, we show that mutation of the PD-L1 intracellular domain results in a … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkag006. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag006. ABSTRACT Adipocytes accumulate in the bone marrow with age. This has been proposed to trigger age-related changes in hematopoiesis that include a decline in B cell development. Bone marrow fat cells differ from adipocytes in other areas of the body and include 2 subsets termed constitutive and regulated … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf360. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf360. ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular pathogen that can infect most nucleated cell types in rodents and humans. Parasite infection is regulated by inflammasome activation, downstream of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) priming, and interferon γ (IFN-γ)-mediated activation of immunity inducible GTPases. In vivo, the activation of these pathways … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf363. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf363. ABSTRACT Mast cells are tissue-resident granulocytes that are often viewed through a negative lens due to their roles in allergies and hypersensitivity. While central to these conditions, mast cells have broader roles in vertebrate immune systems that are often overlooked. Whereas most mast cell research to date has … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf358. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf358. ABSTRACT Soil-transmitted helminths are one of the most common infections globally, yet how to promote effective gut-associated humoral responses is not well understood. We identify the histone methyltransferase MLL1 as a key target to promote IgA-driven responses. Mll1 was increased in germinal center B cells in gut-associated lymphoid … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf347. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf347. ABSTRACT Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a genetic autoimmune disease in children and young adults, with no cure, emphasizing the need for novel genetic-based therapies. Differential analysis using the “Limma” package identified 42 upregulated genes in the peripheral blood of T1D patients. Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Feb 9;215(2):vkaf340. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf340. ABSTRACT This study elucidates the regulatory role and molecular mechanism of the circular RNA actin-related protein 2 homolog (circACTR2) in macrophage phenotypic transformation and renal injury in chronic kidney disease (CKD). A mouse model of CKD was established via adenine administration. An in vitro inflammatory model was generated … Read more