The Immune Regulation and Tolerance Research Group (IRT) meets three multidisciplinary laboratories working on Autoimmunity, Autoantigen discovery and Transplantation.
The different research lines are hosted by the Immunology Disciplinary Program of the Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBM), located at the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Our main goal is to understand the immunological basis responsible for the loss of tolerance in autoimmune diseases. We are intended to develop strategies for tolerance induction with therapeutic potential in autoimmunity and transplantation, emphasizing the study on tolerogenic dendritic cells, regulatory T and B cells, and cytokine-blocking antibodies. In addition, we have a commitment with the education, participating in the training of new scientific generations including undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral fellows. Our main strength to transfer the achievements of our basic research into patients’ benefits is supported by a robust and productive interaction with several clinicians, including rheumatologists, hematologists, transplantologists and clinical immunologists.
publications
Take a glance at our latest publications
Aravena O, Pesce B, 1, Soto L, Orrego N, Sabugo F, Wurmann P, Molina MC, Alfaro J,
Cuchacovich M, Aguillón JC and Catalán D. Anti-TNF therapy in patients with rheumatoid
arthritis decreases Th1 and Th17 cell populations and expands IFN-γ-producing NK cell
and regulatory T cell subsets. Immunobiology. 2011.
Dec;216(12):1256-63. Epub 2011 Jul 7. [+]
PROjECTS
Review our current and former grants
In the Immune Regulation and Tolerance Research Group we are developing the following projects, aimed to increase our knowledge in the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the immune system and to develop therapeutic strategies based in the induction in tolerance to treat autoimmune diseases and increase transplantation success. [+]
RESEARCH LINE
Role of B cells in autoimmunity and tolerance induction
It is now becoming increasingly accepted that B cells are not just the precursors of antibody-secreting cells, but also participate in the immune homeostasis by performing several diverse functions that range from antigen presentation to immune tolerance. In this sense, an IL-10-producing regulatory B cell population (Breg) has been described, which confers protection against experimental autoimmunity. Bregs have been recently discovered in humans, sharing most of the functions reported for murine Bregs.[+]
