Mechanisms of immune homeostasis and regulation of intraocular inflammation

National Eye Institute

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and regulatory B cells (Bregs) suppress CNS autoimmune diseases such as Uveitis or Multiple Sclerosis through the secretion of IL-10, IL-27 or IL-35. The expansion and regulatory activities of these immune suppressive lymphocytes depend on stringent regulation through differential activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Cell-based immunotherapy represents a state-of-the-art approach for autoimmune diseases and our studies seek to identify additional Breg populations with diverse immunosuppressive functions. An area of particular focus is to build on our recent discovery that i27-Bregs, IL-35-Bregs and exosomes they produce suppress uveitis and encephalitis in mice by propagating infectious tolerance. The induced infectious tolerance signals amplify immune-suppression by reprograming conventional lymphocytes T and B cells) to acquire regulatory functions during inflammation.