Topics and Trends in Most Cited Immune Cell Function and Interaction Papers, Class of 2026

What topics and trends defined most-cited Immune Cell Function and Interaction research in the Class of 2026?

In 2024, research on Immune Cell Function and Interaction was defined by a strong focus on the tumor microenvironment and T cell exhaustion. The largest shifts were seen in the rising interest in CD8+ T cell exhaustion and CAR T cell persistence, reflecting a pivot towards understanding and overcoming limitations in cellular immunotherapies.

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Updated July 15, 2026

At a glance

Field: Immune Cell Function and Interaction
Cohort label: Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed: 9,447
Papers ranked: 20
Top topics in ranked papers: Tumor microenvironment, T cell exhaustion, CD8+ T cells
Publication window: Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility: Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window: 18 months post-publication
18m citation range: 105–236
Data source: OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026
License: CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 9,447

23618m citations

Safety, efficacy and determinants of response of allogeneic CD19-specific CAR-NK cells in CD19+ B cell tumors: a phase 1/2 trial

David Marin, Ye Li, Rafet Basar, Hind Rafei, May Daher et al.Nature Medicine202410.1038/s41591-023-02785-8

Katayoun RezvaniThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States

CAR-NK cellsCD19-specific chimeric antigen receptorcord blood-derived NK cellsIL-15 co-expressionallogeneic cell therapyCD19+ B cell malignanciesphase 1/2 trialoverall response rateprogression-free survivalCAR-NK cell persistencecytokine release syndromegraft-versus-host diseasecord blood unit selectionnucleated red blood cell countcollection-to-cryopreservation timeeffector-related gene signaturehypoxia stress responseCellular stress responsexenograft tumour modelsdonor selection criteria

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#2 of 9,447

19618m citations

Interleukin-15-armoured GPC3 CAR T cells for patients with solid cancers

David Steffin et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08261-8

Andras HeczeyBaylor College of Medicine, United States

Interleukin-15GPC3CAR T cell therapySolid tumorsarmoured CAR T cellscytokine armoringIL-15 secretionTumor microenvironmentCAR T cell persistencesolid tumor immunotherapy

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#3 of 9,447

18118m citations

LAG-3 and PD-1 synergize on CD8+ T cells to drive T cell exhaustion and hinder autocrine IFN-γ-dependent anti-tumor immunity

Lawrence P Andrews et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.07.016

Dario A.A. VignaliUniversity of Pittsburgh, United States

LAG-3PD-1CD8+ T cell exhaustionautocrine IFN-γ signalingAntitumor immunityimmune checkpoint synergyT cell receptor signaling inhibition

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#4 of 9,447

17218m citations

High-dimensional single-cell analysis of human natural killer cell heterogeneity

Lucas Rebuffet et al.Nature Immunology202410.1038/s41590-024-01883-0

Éric VivierAix Marseille Université, France

NK cellsinnate lymphoid cellsSingle-cell transcriptomicsCITE-seqNK cell subsetsNK1 subsetNK2 subsetNK3 subsettranscription factorscytokine responsesmetabolic traitsontogenetic originstranscriptional trajectoriesintraepithelial lymphocytesIntratumoral NK cellstonsil NK cellslung NK cellscross-tissue NK cell distribution

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#5 of 9,447

14318m citations

Combined JAK inhibition and PD-1 immunotherapy for non–small cell lung cancer patients

Divij Mathew, Melina E Marmarelis et al.Science202410.1126/science.adf1329

Divij Mathew, Melina E. Marmarelis, E. John Wherry, Andy J. MinnUniversity of Pennsylvania, United States

JAK inhibitionitacitinibPD-1/PD-L1 blockadetype-I interferonpersistent inflammationImmunosuppressionNon-small cell lung cancerphase 2 clinical trialCD8 T cell plasticityT cell exhaustioneffector memory-like T cellsT cell clonotypesterminal differentiationcombination immunotherapyAntitumor efficacymouse tumor modelprogressive diseaseImmunotherapy resistancecytokine-driven immune dysfunctionT cell differentiation dynamics

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#6 of 9,447

13318m citations

Xist ribonucleoproteins promote female sex-biased autoimmunity

Diana R Dou et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2023.12.037

Howard Y. ChangStanford University, United States

Xist long non-coding RNAX chromosome inactivationSex-biased autoimmunityXist ribonucleoprotein complexautoantibodiestransgenic Xist expressionnon-silencing XistSJL/J micepristane-induced lupus modelT cell reprogrammingB cell reprogrammingchromatin state changesXIST RNP autoantigensXX sex chromosome complementlncRNA scaffold

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#7 of 9,447

13018m citations

Dysfunction of exhausted T cells is enforced by MCT11-mediated lactate metabolism

Ronal M Peralta et al.Nature Immunology202410.1038/s41590-024-01999-3

Greg M. DelgoffeUniversity of Pittsburgh, United States

T cell exhaustionMCT11lactate metabolismmonocarboxylate transporterCD8+ T cellsTumor microenvironmentT cell receptor stimulationCo-inhibitory receptorsT cell polyfunctionalityconditional gene deletionantibody-mediated targetinglactic acid uptakeAntitumor immunitymouse tumor modelimmunosuppressive metabolismTerminally exhausted T cellseffector function restorationTumor growth inhibition

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#8 of 9,447

12918m citations

Depleting myeloid-biased haematopoietic stem cells rejuvenates aged immunity

Jason B Ross, Lara M Myers et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07238-x

Kim J. Hasenkrug, Irving L. WeissmanStanford University, United States

myeloid-biased haematopoietic stem cellsImmunosenescenceHSC depletionimmune rejuvenationMyeloid biashematopoietic stem cell agingstem cell heterogeneityclonal hematopoiesis

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#9 of 9,447

12818m citations

A blueprint for tumor-infiltrating B cells across human cancers

Jiaqiang Ma, Yingcheng Wu, Lifeng Ma, Xupeng Yang, Tiancheng Zhang et al.Science202410.1126/science.adj4857

Jiaqiang Ma, Yingcheng Wu, Lifeng Ma, Xupeng Yang, Tiancheng Zhang, Jia Fan, Guoji Guo, Xiaoming Zhang, Qiang GaoFudan University, China

Tumor-infiltrating B cellsSingle-cell transcriptomicsB cell-receptor repertoirechromatin accessibilityextrafollicular pathwaygerminal center pathwayB cell subsetsdysfunctional extrafollicular programglutamine-derived metabolitesepigenetic-metabolic cross-talkT cell-driven immunosuppressive programImmunotherapy resistancehumoral immunityB cell-targeting immunotherapyintratumor B cell balance

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#10 of 9,447

12518m citations

IL-10-expressing CAR T cells resist dysfunction and mediate durable clearance of solid tumors and metastases

Yang Zhao, Jiangqing Chen et al.Nature Biotechnology202410.1038/s41587-023-02060-8

Li TangÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

IL-10-expressing CAR T cellsCAR T cell dysfunction resistanceTumor eliminationmetastasis clearanceT cell exhaustionCAR T cell therapycytokine engineeringadoptive cell therapy

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#11 of 9,447

12218m citations

Cancer SLC6A6-mediated taurine uptake transactivates immune checkpoint genes and induces exhaustion in CD8+ T cells

Tianyu Cao et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.03.011

Xin Wang, Yongzhan Nie, Yuanyuan Lu, Xiaodi ZhaoFourth Military Medical University, China

SLC6A6taurine uptakeimmune checkpoint gene transactivationCD8+ T cell exhaustiontumor microenvironment metabolic competitiontaurine transporter

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#12 of 9,447

11818m citations

Blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 leads to co-expression of cytotoxic and exhaustion gene modules in CD8+ T cells to promote antitumor immunity

Anthony R Cillo et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.06.036

Anthony R. Cillo, John M. Kirkwood, Tullia C. Bruno, Dario A.A. VignaliUniversity of Pittsburgh, United States

LAG-3 blockadePD-1/PD-L1 blockadedual checkpoint inhibitionCD8+ T cell exhaustioncytotoxic gene moduleexhaustion gene moduleAntitumor immunityImmune checkpoint blockade

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#13 of 9,447

11718m citations

Dual impacts of serine/glycine-free diet in enhancing antitumor immunity and promoting evasion via PD-L1 lactylation

Huan Tong et al.Cell Metabolism202410.1016/j.cmet.2024.10.019

Zhen Lei, Hubing Shi, Xuelei MaSichuan University, China

serine/glycine-free dietColorectal cancerPD-1/PD-L1 blockadeLactylationCD8+ T cellsAntitumor immunityImmune evasionPD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathwaydiet-immunotherapy combinationTumor growth inhibitionT cell accumulationPD-L1Solid tumorsPhase I clinical trialsystemic immunity regulation

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#14 of 9,447

11618m citations

Antigen presentation by tumor-associated macrophages drives T cells from a progenitor exhaustion state to terminal exhaustion

Jessica Waibl Polania et al.Immunity202410.1016/j.immuni.2024.11.026

Jessica Waibl PolaniaDuke University, United States

Progenitor exhausted T cellsTerminally exhausted T cellsprogenitor exhaustion-to-terminal exhaustion ratio (PETER)tumor-associated macrophagesantigen presentationTAM depletionImmunotherapy response predictionPD-1/PD-L1 blockadeglioblastomasingle-cell analysistumor-specific T cell subsetscognate antigen exposureT cell exhaustion trajectoryintratumoral cellular interactionsanti-tumor cytotoxic functionTumor progressionSolid tumorsTAM-T cell interactions

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#15 of 9,447

11618m citations

Identification of the novel exhausted T cell CD8 + markers in breast cancer

Hengrui Liu et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-70184-1

Panpan Wang, Jieling WengJinan University, China

exhausted CD8+ T cellsCD8Tex marker gene setsTumor microenvironmentsingle-cell immune cell datasetsmachine learning clusteringprognostic modelprotein-protein interaction networkhub genesCRTAMCLEC2DKLRB1breast cancer bulk sequencing dataspatial sequencing datapan-cancer analysisCancer immunotherapysurvival analysismolecular subtypingbiomarker identificationT cell exhaustioncancer immunotherapy biomarkers

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#16 of 9,447

11518m citations

IL-10 constrains sphingolipid metabolism to limit inflammation

Autumn G York et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07098-5

Autumn G. York, Steven J. Bensinger, Richard A. FlavellYale University, United States

IL-10 signallingvery long chain ceramidesceramide synthase 2 (CERS2)sphingolipid metabolisminflammatory bowel diseaseinnate immune cellsmono-unsaturated fatty acid synthesisfatty acid desaturationREL transcription factorIL-10 deficiencyinflammatory gene expressionde novo lipogenesisgenetic deletion of Cers2saturated ceramide accumulationmetabolic correction of lipid homeostasisfatty acid homeostasis in immune regulation

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#17 of 9,447

11518m citations

JAK inhibition enhances checkpoint blockade immunotherapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma

Veronika Bachanova, John R Teijaro et al.Science202410.1126/science.ade8520

Jaroslav Žák, Veronika Bachanová, John R. TeijaroUniversity of Minnesota, United States

JAK inhibitionImmune checkpoint blockadeHodgkin lymphomaruxolitinibPD-1/PD-L1 blockadenivolumabJAK-STAT pathwayImmunotherapy resistanceneutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratioMyeloid-derived suppressor cellsT cell exhaustionimmunostimulatory myeloid cellsT cell divisioncytokine-producing T cellsrelapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma

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#18 of 9,447

10818m citations

Smoking changes adaptive immunity with persistent effects

Violaine Saint-André et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-023-06968-8

Violaine Saint‐André, Darragh DuffyInstitut Pasteur, France

cytokine secretion variabilitysmokingcytomegalovirus latent infectionbody mass indexinnate immune responsesAdaptive immunitysmoking cessationCEACAM6epigenetic memoryDNA methylationsignal trans-activatorsmetabolic regulatorsimmune challenge responselong-term immunological effects

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#19 of 9,447

10718m citations

CCL19-producing fibroblasts promote tertiary lymphoid structure formation enhancing anti-tumor IgG response in colorectal cancer liver metastasis

Yifan Zhang et al.Cancer Cell202410.1016/j.ccell.2024.07.006

Changjun Yin, Zhihang Chen, Ming KuangSun Yat-sen University, China

CCL19-producing fibroblaststertiary lymphoid structurescolorectal cancer liver metastasisanti-tumor IgG responseCCL19/CCR7 signalingcancer-associated fibroblasts

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#20 of 9,447

10518m citations

The type 2 cytokine Fc–IL-4 revitalizes exhausted CD8+ T cells against cancer

Bing Feng, Zhiliang Bai et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07962-4

Rong Fan, Yugang Guo, Li TangÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Fc–IL-4Type 2 cytokinesexhausted CD8+ T cellsTerminally exhausted T cellstype 1 immunityAdoptive T cell therapyImmune checkpoint blockadeSTAT6 pathwaymTOR pathwayGlycolysisNAD concentrationlactate dehydrogenase ALDHA-dependent mechanismMetabolic reprogrammingtype 2 immunitysyngeneic tumour modelsxenograft tumour modelscancer immunotherapy synergy

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Topic trends

Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Immune Cell Function and Interaction

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The 2024 cohort for Immune Cell Function and Interaction is heavily anchored in understanding the complex dynamics within the tumor microenvironment. T cell exhaustion and the specific role of CD8+ T cells are the most dominant themes, reflecting a significant ongoing effort to characterize the states that limit antitumor immunity. Immune checkpoint blockade and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways remain foundational, indicating that researchers are continuing to refine and understand the mechanisms of established immunotherapies. The strong presence of these interrelated topics suggests the field's primary focus is on decoding the suppressive networks that tumors use to evade immune destruction, aiming to unlock more durable responses to therapies.

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

The most striking shift from the previous cohort is the explosive growth of specialized studies on CD8+ T cell exhaustion and CAR T cell persistence. Both topics emerged as major focal points, indicating a strategic pivot from broad immunotherapy applications towards addressing the specific challenges of therapeutic cell longevity and functional decline. We also see significant increases in studies involving IL-10 and combination immunotherapies. Conversely, broader terms like 'antitumor immunity' and 'cancer immunotherapy' saw a decline in relative frequency, suggesting that research has moved past general concepts and into highly specific, mechanistic investigations of immune cell interactions and therapeutic resistance.

Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodology GitHub bioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Immune Cell Function and Interaction Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/immune-cell-function-and-interaction/2026. Accessed 2026-07-15.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459