The Journal of Immunology

J Immunol. 2026 Jul 10;215(7):vkag163. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag163. ABSTRACT Success of B cell depletion therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS), an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, places B cells and their functions center stage in efforts to fully understand pathogenesis. Historically, MS animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis have featured B cell-independent disease driven … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jul 10;215(7):vkag183. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag183. ABSTRACT Chronic viral infections evade or suppress host immunity, posing risks to global human health. However, the underlying mechanisms of viral immune suppression are incompletely defined. Previously, we have demonstrated that sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) represses CD4+ T-cell immunity during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Clone 13 (Cl 13) … Read more

J Immunol. 2026 Jul 10;215(7):vkag162. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag162. ABSTRACT Our group discovered a mutation in a French-Canadian family causing a severe and early-onset form of emphysema. The heterozygote mutation located in the PTPN6 gene causes an alanine to threonine switch near the catalytic site of SHP-1, leading to a reduction of its enzymatic activity. In this … Read more

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