Different subsets of effector T cells contribute in distinct ways to various pathologic conditions. Their migration into tissues is a highly regulated process that involves interactions of the T cells with vascular endothelial cells. My research is currently focused on studying the migratory phenotype of Th17 cells, a newly defined T cell subset that appears to be highly inflammatory and whose mechanisms of migration into inflammatory sites are largely unexplored. My preliminary data indicates that Th17 cells engage in adhesive interactions with selectins, integrins, and endothelium, and show potentially important differences compared to Th1 cells. In this proposal, which includes 3 specific aims, I will further study the interactions of Th17 cells with endothelial cells, with the ultimate goal of determining if Th17 homing into tissues can be specifically targeted in therapeutically useful ways. The techniques which I will have acquired during the mentored phase of the award (defined in aims 1 and 2 of the proposed application) will allow me to develop new technologically advanced methods to further address the role of Th17 cells in inflammation and disease in vivo. This aspect will be pursued during the independent phase of the award (Aim 3).
Aim 1 will characterize the adhesion profile of Th17 interactions with endothelial cells and define distinguishing features from Th1. T cell interactions with recombinant adhesion molecules and with activated endothelium under physiological flow conditions in vitro, as well as in vivo, using intravital microscopy (IVM), will be studied.
Aim 2 will analyze the expression of ligands for adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors expressed in primary mouse Th17 cells and the cytokine signals that are required for the migratory phenotype observed in Aim 1. Protein and mRNA analysis will be performed.
Aim 3 will focus on the migratory behavior of Th17 cells during inflammation in vivo and comparisons will be made with Th1 cells. Distinctly labeled Th17 and Th1 cells will be transferred into different mouse inflammatory models and their migration in the host mice will be analyzed by several quantitative techniques.
| Velázquez, Francisco; Grodecki-Pena, Anna; Knapp, Andrew et al. (2016) CD43 Functions as an E-Selectin Ligand for Th17 Cells In Vitro and Is Required for Rolling on the Vascular Endothelium and Th17 Cell Recruitment during Inflammation In Vivo. J Immunol 196:1305-1316 |
| Zhang, Jie; Alcaide, Pilar; Liu, Li et al. (2011) Regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression by mast cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. PLoS One 6:e14525 |
| Alcaide, Pilar; Lim, Yaw Chin; Luscinskas, Francis W et al. (2010) Mucin AgC10 from Trypanosoma cruzi Interferes with L-selectin-mediated monocyte adhesion. Infect Immun 78:1260-8 |
