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}
{"title":"Border-associated macrophages: guardians of vascular homeostasis.","authors":"Rui Xing, Jing Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The border tissues of the brain harbor specialized immune cells known as border-associated macrophages (BAMs), which have vital roles at these interfaces. However, factors governing their development and maintenance remain elusive. In a recent study, Van Hove et al. elegantly demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-34 is critical for sustaining BAMs and enabling their regulation of vascular function.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144621198","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.04.008
Molly E Lumnitzer, Scott A Lovell, Stephanie A Condotta, Martin J Richer
{"title":"Restraining the killers: regulation of T cell quiescence.","authors":"Molly E Lumnitzer, Scott A Lovell, Stephanie A Condotta, Martin J Richer","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.04.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.04.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Active regulation of T cell quiescence is important to sustain immune responses to vaccination and infection while preventing inappropriate responses such as autoimmunity. Recent studies highlight that quiescence in naïve T cells is actively regulated by transcription factors and tonic signaling. Loss of quiescence in aged T cells has significant consequences because the cells are less responsive to infection or vaccination. This review covers the current state of knowledge about transcriptional regulation of naïve T cell quiescence and how quiescence is lost in aged hosts and during chronic infection. Finally, we discuss the need for a deeper understanding of the factors involved in cell quiescence to identify targets to restore cell quiescence in dysfunctional T cells.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"525-535"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144175831","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-06-14DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.05.004
Madison S Strine, Brett Vahkal, Kerri St Denis, Liza Konnikova
{"title":"Exploring mucosal immune development and function in utero.","authors":"Madison S Strine, Brett Vahkal, Kerri St Denis, Liza Konnikova","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multiomics advances have led to breakthroughs in understanding human early life immunity. Adaptive memory immune cells have been detected in fetal tissue extremely early in gestation, where they may respond to maternal exposures. These promising findings lay the groundwork for future research on the lifelong impact of early immune development.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"502-504"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12255524/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303607","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-05-16DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.04.006
Costas Koufaris, Michael Berger, Rami Aqeilan
{"title":"Causes and consequences of T cell DNA damage.","authors":"Costas Koufaris, Michael Berger, Rami Aqeilan","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.04.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.04.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although DNA damage is a common cellular event, T cells experience significant genotoxic stresses because of rapid antigen-stimulated expansion and their presence in various nonlymphoid microenvironments. In addition to the well-established link between genomic instability and malignancy, recent genomic studies have uncovered a substantial mutational burden in nonmalignant T cells in both normal aging and disease contexts. Furthermore, genomic damage in T cells is accelerated in autoimmune diseases and in older individuals because of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This review highlights the different genotoxic stressors affecting T cells and the detrimental effects of persistent DNA damage and identifies the most critical knowledge gaps.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"536-549"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144095456","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.05.005
Natalia R Comet, Carmen Gerlach
{"title":"The T cell subsetting challenge.","authors":"Natalia R Comet, Carmen Gerlach","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exploiting specific T cell subset properties bears potential for T cell therapies but is complicated by inconsistencies in T cell subset definitions and markers. Here, we discuss causes for the definition and classification complexities to provide a handle for how to navigate the T cell subset jungle.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"505-507"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318724","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-06-24DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.05.006
Haoyang Li, Kathryn M Hastie, Erica Ollmann Saphire
{"title":"Infusion of neutralization into Lassa vaccine design.","authors":"Haoyang Li, Kathryn M Hastie, Erica Ollmann Saphire","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lassa virus (LASV), which causes deadly Lassa fever (endemic in Western Africa), is a priority pathogen and a global health threat. Current vaccine candidates protect LASV-challenged animals through T cell immunity or non-neutralizing IgG/Fc receptor-mediated functions in the absence of potent neutralization. Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), applied through passive immunization, also provide broad and complete protection against LASV. Rational design of LASV glycoprotein complex (GPC), the primary target for adaptive immunity, overcomes prior challenges to elicitation of nAbs caused by the dense glycan shield, metastability, and heterogeneity of GPC. Well-engineered GPC immunogens, in combination with advanced immunization methods and existing clinical trial phase vaccine candidates, provide a possibility to infuse neutralizing activity into complementary mechanisms of immune protection delivered by LASV vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"512-524"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144487120","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-06-18DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.06.002
Gabriel Goncalves, Riccardo Dolcetti, Joshua D Ooi, Pouya Faridi
{"title":"Cryptic but critical: non-canonical antigens in cancer immunotherapy.","authors":"Gabriel Goncalves, Riccardo Dolcetti, Joshua D Ooi, Pouya Faridi","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two recent studies, by Ely et al. and Apavaloaei et al., revealed that non-canonical antigens derived from unmutated, noncoding regions dominate the immunopeptidome of many cancers. Here, we discuss how this challenges conventional mutation-centric immunotherapies and highlight emerging strategies, including cryptic antigen- and TCR-targeted vaccines, as promising new clinically relevant paths in personalised and off-the-shelf cancer immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"499-501"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144334454","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}
Trends in ImmunologyPub Date : 2025-07-01Epub Date: 2025-06-12DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2025.05.003
Daniel A Waizman, Andrew Wang
{"title":"A physiological perspective on neuroimmune tissue innervation.","authors":"Daniel A Waizman, Andrew Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.it.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Organisms must adapt to unpredictable environmental perturbations. We propose that the immune system, which can be redistributed across tissues ('immune innervation'), cooperates with the nervous system to form a larger integrative network that can maximize the number of adaptive physiologic states to a given perturbation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":"508-511"},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287050","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}
Mackenzie H Smith, Roy R Parker, Kristin L Patrick, Edward M C Courvan
{"title":"Plans within plans: post-transcriptional regulation governs macrophage responses.","authors":"Mackenzie H Smith, Roy R Parker, Kristin L Patrick, Edward M C Courvan","doi":"10.1016/j.it.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Macrophages are sentinels and first responders of the innate immune system. By sensing danger signals, they initiate and amplify inflammatory and regenerative cascades to control appropriate responses to pathogens and tissue damage. Transcriptional activation of macrophage gene expression has been studied extensively, but macrophage responses also rely on regulation of mRNAs following transcription. In this review we discuss mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation that alter macrophage gene expression programs in profound and sometimes surprising ways. We explore how these control nodes are layered to form complex and dynamic circuits, discuss their role in disease, and conclude by outlining opportunities for future study of post-transcriptional regulation in macrophages.</p>","PeriodicalId":54412,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Immunology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144546173","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}