Dissecting autoimmunity – B and T cell responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a complex and heterogeneous inflammatory disorder, where many patients (but not all) display clear autoimmune features characterized by MHC class II association and autoantibody production. Disease develops gradually during a long time period with different compartments being the site of initiation (lung) versus disease precipitation (joints). A functional understanding of this stepwise process is emerging.

We study B and T cells and their effector functions in blood, joints and lungs of RA patients. We utilize peptide – HLA-DR-tetramers as well as antigen-tetramers (for specific T and B cell capture respectively).
Expression of recombinant IgG (BCR) from RA-derived B cells has e.g. revealed an inflammation-independent, but autoimmune, mechanism for pain and bone erosion, explaining some of the conundrums of early aggressive disease.

The possibility to capture antigen-specific lymphocytes is currently applied for immunosurveillance of the autoimmune lymphocyte repertoire in RA patients over time and in response to therapeutic intervention.
Date: 2 February 2016, 16:00
Venue: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Headington OX3 7FY
Venue Details: Bernard Sunley Lecture Theatre
Speaker: Vivianne Malstrom, Professor in Rheumatological Immunology (Dept of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden)
Organising department: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology
Organisers: Jo Silva (NDORMS), Wulf Forrester-Barker (University of Oxford, Nuffield Dept of Orthopaedics Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences), Gintare Kolesnikovaite (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology)
Organiser contact email address: Gintare.Kolesnikovaite@kennedy.ox.ac.uk
Host: Prof Fiona Powrie (PROFESSOR OF MUSCULOSKELETAL SCIENCES AND DIRECTOR OF THE KENNEDY INSTITUTE)
Part of: Kennedy Institute Seminars
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Gintare Kolesnikovaite