FYI
The following ad-hoc seminar will take place this afternoon. It is being
given by a collegaue of mine who is interested in non-invasive imaging
of immune systems. The seminar though is purely about immunity
Gary
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AD HOC INFECTION AND IMMUNITY SEMINAR
Wednesday 24 July, 4.00pm
Q014, Centre for Immunology and Infection
Professor Matthew Collin
University of Newcastle
"Human dendtiric cell homeostasis in vivo"
Abstract:
Over the last two decades, the study of human dendritic cells (DCs) has
been driven by in vitro monocyte-derived models. Monocyte-derived DCs
are competent antigen-presenting cells but do they really represent
anything found in vivo? From the description of new subsets of primary
human DCs, we have begun to understand more about the functional
specialisation and homeostasis of human DCs in vivo. Haematopoietic
stem cell transplantation highlights the differences between DCs and
macrophages in turnover and immune function and provides insights into
the induction of graft versus host responses. We have then turned to
genetics and immunodeficiency to probe the homeostasis of DCs in
unperturbed states. Many genetic disorders of innate and adaptive
immunity are known but until recently, defined examples of DC deficiency
had not been described in humans. We have developed simple tools to
screen immunodeficient patients for DC deficiency and have identified a
number of novel disorders, including IRF8 and GATA-2 mutation.
Homozygous IRF8 (K108E) mutation leads to DC and monocyte deficiency
with myeloproliferation. Heterozygous loss of GATA-2 function causes a
failure of mononuclear cell development known as DC, monocyte, B and NK
lymphoid (DCML) deficiency, associated with attrition of multi-lymphoid
and granulocyte macrophage progenitors and elevated Flt-3 ligand.
Examination of pedigrees with inherited GATA-2 mutation reveals
individuals carrying mutant alleles that remain unaffected for several
decades, indicating that DC and other mononuclear cells are intact at
birth, and that immunity is not impaired until later in life. In this
setting, normal immunoglobulin titres and memory T cell function
preserve secondary immune responses long after DC function has declined.
GATA-2 deficiency thus provides insights into human DC function and
immunological memory in vivo.
Bio:
Matthew Collin is Professor of Haematology at Newcastle University and
Director of Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at the Northern
Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. He
graduated with an MD/PhD from Oxford University in 1995 completing a PhD
on HIV infection of macrophages in the lab of Siamon Gordon. He
received funding from Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (UK) as a
Clinician Scientist and Bennett Fellow and completed post-doctoral work
in the labs of Derek Hart and Miriam Merad.
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Gary Green
York Neuroimaging Centre
The Biocentre
York Science Park
Innovation Way
Heslington
York
YO10 5NY
http://www.ynic.york.ac.uk
https://www.ynic.york.ac.uk/about-us/people/ggrg
tel. Claire Fox : +44 (0) 1904 435329
Claire,Fox(a)ynic.york.ac.uk
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