Our laboratory is interested broadly in the interface between the innate and adaptive immune systems, and the unique subsets of T lymphocytes that bridge these systems by adopting properties that are very characteristic of innate immune cells. One of these T cell subsets is comprised of the CD1d-reactive invariant natural killer T cells, and over the years we have studied the development, homeostasis, activation and regulation of function of these cells, as well as their specificity and the pathways leading to the processing and presentation of antigens by CD1d. Another unconventional T cell subset with some features of innate immune cells is the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) that express CD8αα homodimers, but neither CD4 nor CD8αβ. Our fascination with these cells has led us to explore more generally the regulation of the mucosal immune response, with a strong emphasis on events leading to the dysregulation of this response and colitis. The research on colitis models has focused particularly on the roles of cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-27, and members of the TNF super family and their various receptors.
