Acting alongside MHC proteins, which present peptide antigens, the CD1 system displays lipid antigens to T cells. Recent studies have defined two general mechanisms of T cell receptor (TCR) binding to human CD1a, CD1b, CD1c, and CD1d proteins. The clas…
Humans are metaorganisms, composed of both host (human) cells and a roughly equal number of commensal microorganisms—collectively known as the microbiome—residing primarily at epithelial barrier surfaces. This review considers human cancer …
A wide variety of suppressive pathways have been investigated in efforts to understand the basis for immune tolerance. Although the contribution of CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to self-tolerance has been extensively studied, less attention has been …
“I appeared as a dewdrop, and disappearing as it is. All of my beloved Naniwa (Osaka) is just a dream of dreams.” This quote is the funeral ode of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who is regarded as a “Great Unifier of Japan” for his role be…
Effective bidirectional communication between the innate and adaptive immune systems is crucial for tissue homeostasis and protective immunity against infections. The innate immune system is responsible for the early sensing of and initial response to …
For decades, scientists have relied on traditional animal models to study viral infection and the immune response. However, these models have limitations, and the search for more accurate and reliable ways to study the human-pathogen interphase has led…
Immune responses are influenced by not only immune cells but also the tissue microenvironment where these cells reside. Recent advancements in understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms and structures of the epidermal tight junctions (TJs) and s…
CD8 T cells play a critical role in antitumor immunity. However, over time, they often become dysfunctional or exhausted and ultimately fail to control tumor growth. To effectively harness CD8 T cells for cancer immunotherapy, a detailed understanding …
The mammalian gut is a vast, diverse, and dynamic single-layer epithelial surface exposed to trillions of microbes, microbial products, and the diet. Underlying this epithelium lies the largest collection of immune cells in the body; these cells encoun…
Metazoans have evolved innate antimicrobial defenses that promote cellular survival and proliferation. Countering the inevitable molecular mechanisms by which microbes sabotage these pathways, multicellular organisms rely on an alternative, perhaps mor…
