Common seminar IBMM-IMI with Nicolas Glaichenhaus, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, INSERM U924, Valbonne, France

This seminar will be followed by a lunch at 13.00

"T cells in allergic asthma"

Asthma is characterized by a T helper cell 2 (Th2) type inflammation, leading to Airway Hyper Responsiveness (AHR) and tissue remodeling. Th2 cell-driven inflammation is likely to represent an abnormal response to harmless airborne particles. While Th2 responses are suppressed by regulatory T cells in healthy individuals, clinical and experimental evidence have suggested that a breakdown in these regulatory mechanisms is responsible for disease development inasthmatic patients. In mice, adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD25(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells suppresses allergic inflammation and AHR via a mechanism dependent upon IL-10. Regulatory T cells also inhibit established inflammation and prevent airway remodeling when delivered after the onset of disease. Our long term goals are to elucidate the mechanisms that are required for the accumulation of Th2 and regulatory T cells in the airways. We are also interested in identifying the mechanisms that are required for the development of asthma-protective regulatory T cells in mice. I will discuss both topics at this seminar.