Review

Authors: Carina Venter, Stefanie Eyerich, Tara Sarin...

Enthusiasm exists for the potential of diet to impact the immune system, prevent disease and its therapeutic potential. Herein, we describe the challenge to nutrition scientists in defining this relationship through case studies of diets and nutrients in the context of allergic and autoimmune diseases. Moderate-quality evidence exists from both human intervention and observational studies to suggest that diet and individual nutrients can influence systemic markers of immune function and inflammation; numerous challenges exist for demonstrating the impact of defined diets and nutrient interventions on clearly influencing immune-mediated-clinical disease endpoints. A growing body of evidence suggests that further consideration of dietary patterns, immune system and gut microbiome composition and function, and subsequent epigenetic modifications are needed to improve our understanding of diet-immune system interactions.

Topics: Diet; Disease Susceptibility; Feeding Behavior; Homeostasis; Humans; Immune System; Nutrients; Nutritional Status

PubMed: 32204518
DOI: 10.3390/nu12030818

Review

Authors: Xiaoqi Mao, Jin Xu, Wei Wang...

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a stromal cell population with cell-of-origin, phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, are the most essential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Through multiple pathways, activated CAFs can promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, along with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and even chemoresistance. Numerous previous studies have confirmed the critical role of the interaction between CAFs and tumor cells in tumorigenesis and development. However, recently, the mutual effects of CAFs and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) have been identified as another key factor in promoting tumor progression. The TIME mainly consists of distinct immune cell populations in tumor islets and is highly associated with the antitumor immunological state in the TME. CAFs interact with tumor-infiltrating immune cells as well as other immune components within the TIME via the secretion of various cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, exosomes and other effector molecules, consequently shaping an immunosuppressive TME that enables cancer cells to evade surveillance of the immune system. In-depth studies of CAFs and immune microenvironment interactions, particularly the complicated mechanisms connecting CAFs with immune cells, might provide novel strategies for subsequent targeted immunotherapies. Herein, we shed light on recent advances regarding the direct and indirect crosstalk between CAFs and infiltrating immune cells and further summarize the possible immunoinhibitory mechanisms induced by CAFs in the TME. In addition, we present current related CAF-targeting immunotherapies and briefly describe some future perspectives on CAF research in the end.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts; Cell Communication; Disease Susceptibility; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Innate; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Tumor Microenvironment; Tumor-Associated Macrophages

PubMed: 34635121
DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01428-1

Review

Authors: Karim M Yatim, Fadi G Lakkis

This review serves as an introduction to an Immunology Series for the Nephrologist published in CJASN. It provides a brief overview of the immune system, how it works, and why it matters to kidneys. This review describes in broad terms the main divisions of the immune system (innate and adaptive), their cellular and tissue components, and the ways by which they function and are regulated. The story is told through the prism of evolution in order to relay to the reader why the immune system does what it does and why imperfections in the system can lead to renal disease. Detailed descriptions of cell types, molecules, and other immunologic curiosities are avoided as much as possible in an effort to not detract from the importance of the broader concepts that define the immune system and its relationship to the kidney.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Biological Evolution; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Innate; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Lymphocytes; Lymphoid Tissue

PubMed: 25845377
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.10031014

Review

Authors: Michelle G Rooks, Wendy S Garrett

The microbiota - the collection of microorganisms that live within and on all mammals - provides crucial signals for the development and function of the immune system. Increased availability of technologies that profile microbial communities is facilitating the entry of many immunologists into the evolving field of host-microbiota studies. The microbial communities, their metabolites and components are not only necessary for immune homeostasis, they also influence the susceptibility of the host to many immune-mediated diseases and disorders. In this Review, we discuss technological and computational approaches for investigating the microbiome, as well as recent advances in our understanding of host immunity and microbial mutualism with a focus on specific microbial metabolites, bacterial components and the immune system.

Topics: Animals; Disease Susceptibility; Fatty Acids; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Homeostasis; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immune System; Immunity; Immunomodulation; Metagenome; Metagenomics; Microbiota; Receptors, Pattern Recognition; Symbiosis

PubMed: 27231050
DOI: 10.1038/nri.2016.42

Review

Authors: Alan V Nguyen, Athena M Soulika

The skin is a complex organ that has devised numerous strategies, such as physical, chemical, and microbiological barriers, to protect the host from external insults. In addition, the skin contains an intricate network of immune cells resident to the tissue, crucial for host defense as well as tissue homeostasis. In the event of an insult, the skin-resident immune cells are crucial not only for prevention of infection but also for tissue reconstruction. Deregulation of immune responses often leads to impaired healing and poor tissue restoration and function. In this review, we will discuss the defensive components of the skin and focus on the function of skin-resident immune cells in homeostasis and their role in wound healing.

Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Immune System; Microbiota; Skin; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Wound Healing

PubMed: 31013709
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081811

Review

Authors: Derek W Cain, John A Cidlowski

Endogenous glucocorticoids are crucial to various physiological processes, including metabolism, development and inflammation. Since 1948, synthetic glucocorticoids have been used to treat various immune-related disorders. The mechanisms that underlie the immunosuppressive properties of these hormones have been intensely scrutinized, and it is widely appreciated that glucocorticoids have pleiotropic effects on the immune system. However, a clear picture of the cellular and molecular basis of glucocorticoid action has remained elusive. In this Review, we distil several decades of intense (and often conflicting) research that defines the interface between the endocrine stress response and the immune system.

Topics: Animals; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Immune System; Immunosuppressive Agents; Inflammation

PubMed: 28192415
DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.1

Review

Authors: Alejandro V Villarino, Yuka Kanno, John J O'Shea...

Kinases of the Jak ('Janus kinase') family and transcription factors (TFs) of the STAT ('signal transducer and activator of transcription') family constitute a rapid membrane-to-nucleus signaling module that affects every aspect of the mammalian immune system. Research on this paradigmatic pathway has experienced breakneck growth in the quarter century since its discovery and has yielded a stream of basic and clinical insights that have profoundly influenced modern understanding of human health and disease, exemplified by the bench-to-bedside success of Jak inhibitors ('jakinibs') and pathway-targeting drugs. Here we review recent advances in Jak-STAT biology, focusing on immune cell function, disease etiology and therapeutic intervention, as well as broader principles of gene regulation and signal-dependent TFs.

Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; Genome-Wide Association Study; Humans; Immune System; Janus Kinases; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Multigene Family; Protein Binding; STAT Transcription Factors; Signal Transduction; Translational Research, Biomedical

PubMed: 28323260
DOI: 10.1038/ni.3691

Review

Authors: Susanne Sattler

The immune system was identified as a protective factor during infectious diseases over a century ago. Current definitions and textbook information are still largely influenced by these early observations, and the immune system is commonly presented as a defence machinery. However, host defence is only one manifestation of the immune system's overall function in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and system integrity. In fact, the immune system is integral part of fundamental physiological processes such as development, reproduction and wound healing, and a close crosstalk between the immune system and other body systems such as metabolism, the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system is evident. Research and medical professionals in an expanding range of areas start to recognise the implications of the immune system in their respective fields.This chapter provides a brief historical perspective on how our understanding of the immune system has evolved from a defence system to an overarching surveillance machinery to maintain tissue integrity. Current perspectives on the non-defence functions of classical immune cells and factors will also be discussed.

Topics: Animals; Cell Communication; Cellular Microenvironment; Communicable Diseases; Homeostasis; Humans; Immune System; Signal Transduction

PubMed: 28667551
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-57613-8_1

Review

Authors: Bahaa Abu-Raya, Christina Michalski, Manish Sadarangani...

The risk and severity of specific infections are increased during pregnancy due to a combination of physiological and immunological changes. Characterizing the maternal immune system during pregnancy is important to understand how the maternal immune system maintains tolerance towards the allogeneic fetus. This may also inform strategies to prevent maternal fatalities due to infections and optimize maternal vaccination to best protect the mother-fetus dyad and the infant after birth. In this review, we describe what is known about the immunological changes that occur during a normal pregnancy.

Topics: Adaptive Immunity; Animals; Female; Histocompatibility, Maternal-Fetal; Humans; Immune System; Immunity, Cellular; Immunity, Humoral; Immunity, Innate; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications

PubMed: 33133091
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.575197

Review

Authors: Justin Rustenhoven, Jonathan Kipnis

The concept of immune privilege suggests that the central nervous system is isolated from the immune system. However, recent studies have highlighted the borders of the central nervous system as central sites of neuro-immune interactions. Although the nervous and immune systems both function to maintain homeostasis, under rare circumstances, they can develop pathological interactions that lead to neurological or psychiatric diseases. Here we discuss recent findings that dissect the key anatomical, cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable neuro-immune responses at the borders of the brain and spinal cord and the implications of these interactions for diseases of the central nervous system.

Topics: Brain; Immune System; Neuroimmunomodulation; Spinal Cord; Humans; Nervous System Diseases

PubMed: 36517712
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05474-7