Top 7 immunology papers

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in immunology, from Faculty of 1000

Written byJef Akst
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linkurl:1. New clue to self-tolerance;http://f1000.com/5685958?key=sswwkkrpjfr7hxf Researchers identify a new population of regulatory T cells, important players in immunological self-tolerance, which can be induced by cytokine interleukin IL-35. These iTr35 cells, which can themselves make IL-35 and initiate the production of more iTr35 cells, can suppress and regulate immune responses in a variety of pathogenic models in mice, opening up a new direction in immunology research and presenting possible therapeutic implications.L. W. Collison, et al., "IL-35-mediated induction of a potent regulatory T cell population," linkurl:Nat Immunol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20953201?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 2010. Evaluated by Stephen Cobbold, University of Oxford; Stanley Perlman, University of Iowa. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5685958?key=sswwkkrpjfr7hxf
Neutrophil immune cell engulfing anthrax bacteria
Image: Wikimedia commons, Etxrge
linkurl:2. Another route to helper T;http://f1000.com/5750956?key=fd6jvlszdhbxkcj T helper 17 cells, which are crucial for host defense and autoimmunity, can differentiate in the absence of TGF-β signaling, contrary to conventional wisdom on Th17 differentiation. Th17 cells derived without TGF-β, however, are more pathogenic, suggesting the differentiation pathways may lead to different Th17 cell types.K. Ghoreschi, et al., "Generation of pathogenic T(H)17 cells in the absence of TGF-beta signalling," linkurl:Nature,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20962846?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 467:967-71, 2010. Evaluated by: Wuzhou Wan and Philip Murphy, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Jeremy McAleer and Jay Kolls, Lousianna State University Health Sciences Centre; Robert Booth, Virobay Inc. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5750956?key=fd6jvlszdhbxkcj linkurl:3. Natural killer cells adapt, too;http://f1000.com/5808956?key=5qhq80hx23pyxfp In addition to their known role in the innate immune system, hepatic natural killer (NK) cells can also generate antigen-specific responses with memory that persists in the absence of the pathogens. These cells appear to act independently of T and B lymphocytes, the classical mediators of adaptive immunity, raising the interesting possibility of using NKs in vaccine development. S. Paust, et al., "Critical role for the chemokine receptor CXCR6 in NK cell-mediated antigen-specific memory of haptens and viruses," linkurl:Nat Immunol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20972432?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 2010. Evaluated by: Sumi Rajagopalan and Eric Long, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Eric Vivier, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5808956?key=5qhq80hx23pyxfp linkurl:4. Key differentiation factor elucidated;http://f1000.com/4942963?key=rqw76cqskm8xcqr Researchers reveal details of how the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates the differentiation of human regulatory T cells, and point to AhR as a potential target for mediating these cell types in autoimmune diseases. R. Gandhi, et al., "Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor induces human type 1 regulatory T cell-like and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells," linkurl:Nat Immunol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20676092?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 11(9):846-53, 2010. Evaluated by: Byron Vaughn, Moritz Schmelzle and Simon Robson, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Ru Zhou and Rachel Caspi, National Eye Institute, NIH. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/4942963?key=rqw76cqskm8xcqr linkurl:5. Avoiding self destruction;http://f1000.com/5389963?key=1lxmypmj55y3xm9 A new study provides clues to how a subset of CD8+ T cells helps the immune system avoid attacking self tissues and organs during vigorous immune responses to pathogens -- they suppress the immune response via their interactions with follicular T-helper cells. H.J. Kim, et al., "Inhibition of follicular T-helper cells by CD8(+) regulatory T cells is essential for self tolerance," linkurl:Nature,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20844537?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 467(7313):328-32, 2010. Evaluated by: Takeshi Tsubata, Tokyo Medical and Dental University; Bryce A Binstadt, University of Minnesota. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5389963?key=1lxmypmj55y3xm9 linkurl:6. miRNA regulation in immunity;http://f1000.com/5762957?key=0zcs1d8kl8p4y78 Researchers identify a miRNA molecule expressed in Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells that is critical to their ability to suppress certain inflammatory responses.L.F. Lu, et al., "Function of miR-146a in controlling Treg cell-mediated regulation of Th1 responses," linkurl:Cell,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20850013?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 142(6):914-29, 2010. Evaluated by: Astar Winoto, University of California, Berkeley. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5762957?key=0zcs1d8kl8p4y78 linkurl:7. Complement-mediated asthma;http://f1000.com/5622958?key=1ywg798380515b2 Interleukin 17A has previously been associated with severe asthma, but its exact role was unknown. In this paper, researchers detail the pathway by which IL-17A mediates severe airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice, and document a novel mechanism involving IL-23 and elements of the complement system of the immune response.S. Lajoie, et al., "Complement-mediated regulation of the IL-17A axis is a central genetic determinant of the severity of experimental allergic asthma," linkurl:Nat Immunol,;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/20802484?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000%2Cf1000m 11(10):928-35, 2010. Evaluated by: Thirumalai Ramalingam and Thomas Wynn, National Institutes of Health; Sarah Gaffen, University of Pittsburgh. linkurl:Free F1000 Evaluation;http://f1000.com/5622958?key=1ywg798380515b2 The F1000 Top 7 is a snapshot of the highest ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 Immunology, as calculated on November 19, 2010. Faculty Members evaluate and rate the most important papers in their field. To see the latest rankings, search the database, and read daily evaluations, visit linkurl:http://f1000.com.;http://f1000.com
**__Related stories:__***linkurl:Top 7 papers in medicine;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57810/
[16th November 2010]*linkurl:Top 7 genetics papers;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57794/
[2nd November 2010]*linkurl:Top 7 immunology papers;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57727/
[28th September 2010]
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Meet the Author

  • Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.

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