Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors regulate the function of the major cells involved in allergic inflammation.

免疫系统的一个重要方面是它能够在反应性和静止性的极端之间保持微妙的平衡。这种平衡的打破可能导致免疫细胞的不受控制的激活或这些细胞无法进行有效的防御。未经检查的细胞活化的潜在结果是自身免疫性疾病，如类风湿性关节炎或过敏性疾病，如哮喘。一个新的细胞表面蛋白家族，称为白细胞免疫球蛋白样受体（LIR），已被证明可以通过增加或降低免疫细胞的活性来调节免疫细胞。在这个项目中，我们将研究LIR在调节与过敏和哮喘有关的主要细胞活性中的作用。这项研究将为保护性免疫反应（如对抗感染和癌症）以及病理性炎症（如哮喘和类风湿性关节炎）期间免疫细胞活化的调节机制提供重要见解。了解LIR在调节免疫细胞活化中的作用可能会导致新的治疗策略，旨在恢复抑制和激活LIR之间的平衡。

An important aspect of the immune system is its ability to maintain a delicate equilibrium between the extremes of reactivity and quiescence. A break in this equilibrium can lead to unchecked activation of immune cells or inability of these cells to mount an effective defence. Potential outcomes of the unchecked activation of cells are autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergic diseases such as asthma. A new family of cell surface proteins termed leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptors (LIRs) has been shown to regulate immune cells by either increasing or decreasing their activity. In this project we will study the role of LIRs in regulating the activity of the major cells involved in allergy and asthma. This study would provide important insights to mechanism(s) of regulation of immune cell activation during protective immune responses such as the fight against infections and cancers and during pathological inflammations such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding the role of the LIRs in the regulation of immune cell activation might lead to new therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring the balance between the inhibitory and activating LIRs.