Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Our bodies rely on a network of cells and tissues, collectively termed the immune system, to protect us from disease. The process by which the immune system attacks one's own healthy cells and tissues is known as autoimmunity. Regulatory T cells are a subset of immune cells whose primary function is preventing the development of autoimmune diseases (such as Type 1 Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis) through maintaining a balanced immune response (thus "regulating" the immune system). However, regulatory T cells themselves can become the villain if they inappropriately subdue the immune response against diseases such as cancer. Hence, effective treatment for autoimmune diseases and cancer requires a fundamental understanding of the elements that are important for regulatory T cell development and function. Here, I propose to investigate Izumo1R, a gene which is highly expressed in regulatory T cells but for which a function in the immune system has not yet been defined. Studies so far show Izumo1R to be vital for fertilization as its absence results in female infertility. Our preliminary work suggests that Izumo1R may also play an essential but underappreciated role in regulating the immune system. I will use a multidisciplinary approach to build on these findings and illuminate the function of Izumo1R in regulatory T cells during health and disease. In particular, I will translate the findings about the basic functions of the receptor using state of the art models of autoimmune diseases. I believe our findings will be pertinent to the development of better therapeutic options for cancer and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatic arthritis, which will in combination burden more than 50% of Canadians at some point during their life.