Grant: Operating Grant

The immune system is designed to recognize the difference between harmful and non-harmful foreign proteins, and to not react against proteins that normally exist in an individual. Unfortunately, when the processes controlling these functions breakdown diseases such as autoimmunity and allergy can result. Although many different types of white blood cells work together to regulate immune responses, one of the major players is the CD4+ T cell. Via their ability to make proteins that send messages between cells, known as cytokines, CD4+ T cells have a central role in directing immunity in health and disease. We are interested in studying how the development and function of different types of CD4+ T cells is controlled since when they can cause much of the tissue destruction and injury in patients with autoimmune diseases. Our past research has revealed possible new pathways of regulation and in this proposal we will conduct research that is aimed at discovering how these new pathways work. The result will be a better understanding of how CD4+ T cells can cause disease and how their inappropriate function can be turned off in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. .