Investigating T cell tolerance and organ-specific auotimmunity using autoantigen deficient mice

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The immune system normally protects against invasion by pathogens such as harmful viruses and bacteria. In autoimmune diseases the same mechanisms that are used to protect us are erroneously targeted to our own tissues. Our studies will employ technologies to genetically manipulate mice to further our knowledge of this class of disease and to uncover the normal mechanisms that allow the immune system to prevent autoimmune attack. In particular we will gain information on the way that a new class of lymphocytes, known as regulatory lymphocytes, are able to protect against autoimmune disease. Such regulatory lymphocytes have been identified in humans and are attractive therapeutic agents to prevent a variety of immune-mediated diseases, including autoimmune diseases, allergy and transplantation rejection.