Symposia:
Joan Goverman, Ph.D.--Mechanisms of Tolerance and Autoimmunity, Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis
 |
Dr. Goverman's research centers on investigating mechanisms of tolerance and autoimmunity and employs an animal model for autoimmunity, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). EAE is triggered by generating T cell-mediated immunity to myelin antigens. Dr. Goverman's work has shown that portions of some myelin proteins induce T cell tolerance, while T cells specific for other regions of these proteins escape tolerance and mediate disease. T cell receptor transgenic models have been developed to investigate how tolerance to myelin antigens is established, maintained and broken. These transgenic models have allowed investigation into triggers of spontaneous central nervous system autoimmune disease and as well as active and passive mechanisms that function to prevent disease. Recently, her laboratory has demonstrated that, in addition to CD4+ T cells, myelin-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells can mediate EAE. This work extends the potential of animal models to define the full range of effector cells that may contribute to multiple sclerosis. |
| Dr. Goverman is Associate Professor of Immunology at the University of Washington |
 |