Lesley Smyth,
Senior Lecturer in Immunology,
University of East London
Dr Smyth completed her PhD at Edinburgh University studying the mechanisms behind immunological tolerance to milk proteins. Since then she has worked on several diverse immunological themes including: cell signalling pathways involved in positive and negative thymic T cell selection, the role anti-apoptotic molecules play in endothelial cell survival during transplantation rejection and the intercellular transfer of information between cells and its implications in both a viral and transplant setting. She is a Senior Lecturer at UEL, as well as visiting lecturer at KCL, where she continues her research into immune regulation investigating how extracellular vesicles from regulatory T cells and dendritic cells modulate immune responses.
The Characterisation and Function of Exosomes Derived from Human T Regulatory Cells
Tuesday, 26 September 2017 at 10:15
Add to Calendar ▼2017-09-26 10:15:002017-09-26 11:15:00Europe/LondonThe Characterisation and Function of Exosomes Derived from Human T Regulatory CellsExtracellular Vesicles 2017 in Cripps Court, Magdalene College, Cambridge, UKCripps Court, Magdalene College, Cambridge, UKSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com
Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) maintain immune tolerance to self-antigens and prevent excessive pro-inflammatory actions of T-effectors (Teffs) and antigen presenting cells responses. In a murine setting, these cells inhibit the aforementioned cells in a variety of ways including the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Release of these vesicles plays a key role in the suppressive capability of murine Tregs through the expression of the ectoenzyme CD73 and specific miRNA species. We have now extended this observation to human CD4+CD25+127lo T-cells isolated from blood, and cultured in the presence of anti-CD3/CD28-coated beads, rapamyacin and IL-2. These cells were suppressive and display key molecules associated with regulation. Activated human Tregs released 50-100nm-sized EVs expressing CD63 and CD81 as well as CD25 and CD39. Excitingly, Treg Evs were capable of suppressing Teffs responses resulting in less activation and the production of an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile. Their suppressive capabilities were also evident in vivo. Adoptive transfer of Treg EVs prevented T cell infiltration and skin damage in a humanised model of transplantation. Our data highlights that human Tregs produce EVs following activation and that this is a novel mechanism by which human Tregs modify immune Teff responses in vivo.
Add to Calendar ▼2017-09-26 10:15:002017-09-26 11:15:00Europe/LondonThe Characterisation and Function of Exosomes Derived from Human T Regulatory CellsExtracellular Vesicles 2017 in Cripps Court, Magdalene College, Cambridge, UKCripps Court, Magdalene College, Cambridge, UKSELECTBIOenquiries@selectbiosciences.com
