Carla Rothlin, PhD

Yale University, New Haven, CT

2011 General Immune System Function

Dendritic Cells (DCs), the master regulators of the immune system, are in charge of coordinating the system’s response to invading viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens while simultaneously ignoring the body’s own proteins. Controlled regulation of the activation of these cells is crucial for normal functioning of the immune system, as their hyper-activation can lead to the reaction against “self-proteins” and the development of autoimmunity.

Describing the mechanisms that limit DC function is likely to be of fundamental significance for developing novel therapies for autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Having discovered a novel mechanism in DCs that restrains their hyper-activation, Dr. Rothlin and colleagues will now, with LRI funding, explore how this mechanism is set in motion in vivo.

The goal: to translate this knowledge into new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of lupus.

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