Macrophages, evolutionarily conserved from primitive organisms, have long been overshadowed by T cells in transplant immunology. However, these versatile innate immune cells are now recognized as central drivers of chronic allograft rejection through their roles in vascular intimal hyperplasia, tissue fibrosis, and immune dysregulation. A new review summarizes current understanding of macrophage origins, heterogeneous subsets, and functions in allograft injury, and highlights emerging therapeutic strategies targeting key signaling pathways, moving beyond conventional T cell-centered immunosuppression.

Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, and roughly one-third of such patients continue to experience seizures despite medication. In a recent study, researchers from Gunma University have developed a 410-base pair compact genetic switch that selectively targets inhibitory neurons in the brain to restore the excitatory–inhibitory balance. This compact switch can be delivered using viral delivery vectors, enabling effective seizure suppression across multiple epilepsy mouse models while preserving the capacity of the therapeutic genes.

Astrocytes, once viewed mainly as support cells in the brain, are now emerging as central regulators of mood disorders. Recent review highlights how astrocyte subtype changes influence neuroinflammation, synaptic signaling, metabolism, and blood–brain barrier stability in depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The researchers describe how inflammatory pathways, ion channels, and glial interactions shape astrocyte behavior and highlight astrocyte-targeted therapies as promising future strategies for preventing neurodegeneration, restoring neural plasticity, and improving long-term psychiatric outcomes.

A classic Chinese herbal formula has been found to be significantly effective in treating myeloproliferative neoplasms, and its mechanism of action has been shown to involve promoting aging and inhibiting inflammation.