Virus-induzierte regulatorische T Zellen in retroviralen Infektionen: Neue Ziele für die Immuntherapie von chronischen Infektionen (B04)

在这个项目中，研究了Tregs在慢性逆转录病毒感染中的作用。实验结果显示，急性FV感染晚期Tregs扩增，随后抑制细胞毒性T细胞反应，促进慢性感染的发展。他们定义了几种参与Tregs激活和扩增的分子途径。这些知识将用于治疗性地阻断Treg扩增和防止效应T细胞衰竭。此外，Tregs、CTL及其病毒感染靶点的相互作用将在活体小鼠中使用活体双光子显微镜成像。此外，治疗性疫苗可以克服慢性感染期间Treg介导的抑制将被开发。

In this project the role of Tregs in chronic retroviral infection was investigated. The PIs showed that Tregs expand during the late phase of acute FV infection and subsequently suppressed cytotoxic T cell responses and contributed to the development of chronic infection. They defined several molecular pathways that are involved in the activation and expansion of Tregs. This knowledge will be used to therapeutically block Treg expansion and prevent effector T cell exhaustion. In addition, the interaction of Tregs, CTL and their virus-infected targets will be imaged in the living mouse using intravital 2-photon microscopy. Furthermore, therapeutic vaccines that can overcome Treg mediated suppression during chronic infection will be developed.