Hongbo Chi, PhD

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

2009 General Immune System Function

S1P1 receptor in regulatory T cells and lupus pathogenesis and therapy

In a normal immune system, a specialized subpopulation of T cells—“regulatory T cells”—help to control, balance, and dampen activation of the immune system.

Could problems in the regulation of this pathway hold clues as to why the immune system becomes hyperactive and uncontrolled in lupus?

Dr. Chi’s lab has discovered a novel pathway that interrupts the function of these regulatory T cells. With LRI funding, he will investigate the pathway’s molecular mechanisms and assess whether it can serve as a drug target to suppress the agitated immune system response of lupus.

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