My main interest is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of T cell autoreactivity and to develop ways for modulation of these aggressive cells and hopefully contain autoimmunity.
T lymphocytes develop in the thymus from bone derived stem cells.
During maturation lymphocytes specific for foreign antigens exit the thymus, migrate to the periphery, and participate in immune surveillance. Particular circumstances allow self-reactive T cells to escape thymic selection and migrate to the periphery. These autoreactive T cells are potentially dangerous and can cause autoimmune disease when they encounter the autoantigen in the periphery. Multiple sclerosis, insulin dependent diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of T cell mediated autoimmune diseases. Coupling of peripheral tolerance to endogenous interleukin 10 promotes effective modulation of myelin activated T cells and ameliorates experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.