Alexandra Cassano, Domenic Abbondanza, Anita S Chong, Maria-Luisa Alegre
{"title":"Cell-intrinsic CD4 T cell tolerance: a new frontier in therapy?","authors":"Alexandra Cassano, Domenic Abbondanza, Anita S Chong, Maria-Luisa Alegre","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>CD4 T cell tolerance is essential for immune homeostasis but its mechanisms remain unclear. Although regulatory T cells (Tregs) mediate T cell-extrinsic tolerance, this review emphasizes the CD4 T cell-intrinsic pathways - anergy and exhaustion - that are triggered by suboptimal or persistent antigen stimulation. These states share transcriptional and epigenomic features across contexts such as cancer, pregnancy, and transplantation. Instead of being distinct, they form a spectrum of tolerance with potential for therapeutic targeting. CD154 has re-emerged as a promising target, although memory T cell tolerization remains challenging. A deeper understanding of what sustains or reverses CD4 T cell tolerance is key to designing treatments that induce/maintain tolerance in autoimmunity and transplantation, or restore functionality in cancer and chronic infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144709867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shuo Li, Yan Guo, Sanqi An, Liangpeng Ge, Jinming You, Wenkai Ren
{"title":"Gut microbiota-host post-translational modification axis in immunometabolic diseases.","authors":"Shuo Li, Yan Guo, Sanqi An, Liangpeng Ge, Jinming You, Wenkai Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Communication between the gut microbiota and host post-translational modifications (PTMs) has been extensively characterized, and recent evidence delineates a functionally integrated gut microbiota-host PTM axis. This axis is not only essential for maintaining metabolism homeostasis but also plays diverse roles in regulating disease pathogenesis. In this review we discuss the emerging effects of microbial modulation of host PTMs by regulating substrate provisioning and enzyme activity. We also highlight the latest understanding of diverse microbiota-regulated PTMs in immune cell fate decision. Finally, we summarize the current understanding of how dysbiosis-induced PTM dysregulation drives pathologies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity-related diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and colorectal cancer (CRC). We also propose targeted strategies to restore homeostasis through the microbiota-PTM axis.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Breaking tolerance: an update of Treg dysfunction in autoimmunity.","authors":"Nardos T Cheru, Yemi Osayame, Tomokazu S Sumida","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>FOXP3<sup>+</sup> regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining immune tolerance, and their dysfunction is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have identified key transcriptional, metabolic, and environmental drivers of Treg instability and loss of function. Understanding these mechanisms opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring immune homeostasis in autoimmunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144669006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Primed to be primed: a new, second phase.","authors":"Benjamin M Kahn, Ben Z Stanger","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>CD8 T cell activation and acquisition of cytolytic activity, which is essential for adaptive immunity, begins with priming in the lymph node (LN). Jobin et al. recently identified a second, delayed priming phase driven by competition with regulatory T cells for IL-2, revealing a rate-limiting step with significant clinical implications.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144669007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enlightening Per2-suasive role of neutrophils in antibacterial immunity.","authors":"María Casanova-Acebes","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neutrophil numbers fluctuate over time, peaking during active phases to enhance immunity. The molecular link between circadian signals and cellular clocks remains unclear. Yi Du et al. show that light-regulated Per2 increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and bacterial killing in zebrafish neutrophils by controlling Hmgb1 expression, highlighting the impact of light on immune function.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144651244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Low-dose IL-2 reinvigorates the immunoguardians of neurodegenerative diseases.","authors":"Yunbo Wei, Yu Zhang, Di Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a life-threatening neurodegenerative disease caused by motor neuron loss. In a recent Phase 2b trial, Bensimon and colleagues report that the addition of low-dose interleukin 2 (LD-IL-2) immunotherapy to standard of care (SOC) shows promise in enhancing immune tolerance and improving survival in individuals with slower disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144627777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xia Li, Paula Rothämel, Claudia Nussbaum, Markus Sperandio, Christoph Scheiermann
{"title":"Development of a circadian immune system.","authors":"Xia Li, Paula Rothämel, Claudia Nussbaum, Markus Sperandio, Christoph Scheiermann","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Circadian rhythms are key regulators of immune functions. These endogenous oscillations help to maintain immune homeostasis, regulate responses to pathogens, and shape vaccine efficacy. Recent studies further indicate that they are of clinical relevance for cancer immunotherapies. While circadian immune rhythms are thus recognized to be important in adults, it is unknown at what developmental stage these rhythms begin to manifest. In this opinion article we review the development of circadian rhythms in the immune system in both rodents and humans, with a focus on their interactions during the perinatal period. Understanding their emergence in early life may help guide time-based clinical interventions for infants.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144627776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Repurposing of old drugs for unleashing innate immunity.","authors":"Fanchao Meng, Hangxiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pharmacological activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway triggers inflammatory innate immune responses to potentially reinvigorate tumor immunogenicity. Recent work by Dang et al. revealed an alternative paradigm: a clinically approved old drug was repurposed to boost STING signaling and immune activation via a mode of action distinct from that of conventional STING agonists.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144621201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neuro-immune crosstalk: focus on innate lymphoid cells.","authors":"John W Bostick, Liang Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuro-immune crosstalk regulates inflammation and host metabolism via neural modulation of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the signaling pathways, regulators, and physiological relevance of these interactions in human health and disease. Future studies leveraging innovative tools promise new insights and therapies for inflammatory and metabolic diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12258959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144621200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cui-Lian Guo, Chong-Shu Wang, Xiang-Hong Wang, Di Yu, Zheng Liu
{"title":"GZMK<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells: multifaceted roles beyond cytotoxicity.","authors":"Cui-Lian Guo, Chong-Shu Wang, Xiang-Hong Wang, Di Yu, Zheng Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells, traditionally recognized for their cytotoxic role in eliminating infections and malignancies, are now known to exhibit significant functional heterogeneity, as revealed by single-cell genomics. Among these, granzyme-K-expressing (GZMK<sup>+</sup>) CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells represent a distinct subset characterized by low cytotoxicity but heightened proinflammatory activity, by contrast with their granzyme-B-expressing (GZMB<sup>+</sup>) counterparts with high cytotoxicity. GZMK<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells are often more abundant in inflammatory diseases, cancer, and age-related inflammation (inflammaging). These cells interact with stromal cells, activate the complement cascade, and perpetuate inflammation, highlighting their emerging therapeutic significance. We review the latest advances in the biology and pathological roles of GZMK<sup>+</sup>CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells, and discuss the potential of targeting their dysregulated activities to treat chronic inflammation and malignancies.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144621199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}