New strategy to modulate T-lymphocyte action and prevent over-reactive immune responses

Marc Veldhoen

Gulbenkian Instituto de Medicina Molecular (GiMM), Lisbon, Portugal

Infectious and inflammatory diseases, whose prevalence is increasing globally, are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Many of these pathologies are related to the activity of T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell responsible for orchestrating the immune attack against pathogens. Sometimes, these defensive cells overreact, which can lead to the development of serious conditions such as fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.

To avoid these complications, broad-spectrum immunosuppressive drugs are often administered; however, they have significant side effects and increase the risk of infection. This makes it necessary to develop new therapeutic options that can selectively inhibit the activity of T-lymphocytes.

In supporting work, the team had already discovered that these defensive cells possess a previously unidentified factor that is crucial for their activation. In the current project, they aim to validate this factor as a new therapeutic target and to identify drugs that can modulate the T-lymphocyte response without affecting the rest of the protective immune function.

• Silvia Almeida, Co-Lab AccelBio, Cantanhede, Portugal

A new Pathway to Modulate T cell Activity

€963,414.00