1,721,033 research outputs found
The hidden strength of CD8+ T cells in chronic hepatitis B
No full textA distinct subset of attenuated CD8+ T cells that retain crucial cytotoxic functions has been identified in chronic hepatitis B infection and linked to viral control
Striking the Right Chord at EJI: Introducing Editor-in-Chief Matteo Iannacone and the Seamless Transfer Policy
No full textImmunobiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection
No full textHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a non-cytopathic, hepatotropic virus with the potential to cause a persistent infection, ultimately leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Over the past four decades, the basic principles of HBV gene expression and replication as well as the viral and host determinants governing infection outcome have been largely uncovered. Whereas HBV appears to induce little or no innate immune activation, the adaptive immune response mediates both viral clearance as well as liver disease. Here, we review our current knowledge on the immunobiology and pathogenesis of HBV infection, focusing in particular on the role of CD8+ T cells and on several recent breakthroughs that challenge current dogmas. For example, we now trust that HBV integration into the host genome often serves as a relevant source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression during chronic infection, possibly triggering dysfunctional T cell responses and favouring detrimental immunopathology. Further, the unique haemodynamics and anatomy of the liver — and the changes they frequently endure during disease progression to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis — profoundly influence T cell priming, differentiation and function. We also discuss why therapeutic approaches that limit the intrahepatic inflammatory processes triggered by HBV-specific T cells might be surprisingly beneficial for patients with chronic infection
Heterogeneity of tissue resident memory T cells
No full textNon-lymphoid organs, in mice and humans, contain CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells. They play important roles in tissue homoeostasis as well as defence against infections and cancer. TRM cells have common characteristics that enables their tissue residency and function. However, the wide variety of tissues, some with continually exposure to invading microbes, distinct organ structures and functions, impose tissue-specific differences on TRM cells. Upon tissue-entry, they need to adapt to local circumstances by modifying their transcriptional machinery, enabling interactions with the – often specialised – surrounding cells and available metabolites. Heterogeneity amongst TRM cells may have implications for their defence function, organ-specific autoimmunity and chronic immune disorders. Here we indicate shared and unique TRM cell features within different tissues to provide a better understanding of their function and discuss possible future research directions
From Histology to High-Resolution Mapping: The Rise of Spatial Omics in Immunology
Full text linkThe immune system is deeply shaped by its anatomical context, with spatial organization emerging as a fundamental principle of immune regulation. Recent advances in spatial omics technologies—encompassing transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and phosphoproteomics—have revolutionized our ability to study immune processes within intact tissue environments. By preserving spatial coordinates while capturing high-dimensional molecular data, these technologies offer unprecedented insight into how immune cell states and functions are governed by local cues and tissue architecture. In this review, we provide an overview of the major spatial omics platforms, emphasizing methodologies that have gained traction within the immunology community and in our own research. We then illustrate how these tools have begun to elucidate the logic of immune compartmentalization across anatomically complex tissues. While not exhaustive, we highlight selected examples from the intestine, secondary lymphoid organs, and liver to show how spatial omics has uncovered region-specific immune programs, microenvironmental niches, and context-dependent signaling pathways. Together, these studies demonstrate how spatial omics technologies are redefining immunological inquiry—shifting the focus from isolated cell types to their spatially embedded roles in tissue physiology and pathology
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