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When the immune system detects the presence of a dangerous invader such as a pathogenic virus or bacterium, it often takes the drastic action of killing any cell bearing signs of having been infected. For certain threats, this task is assigned to a subset of "killer" (cytotoxic) T lymphocytes (CTL). When exposed to a specific antigen, CTL undergo a rapid series of divisions and migrate to the site of infection to begin destroying infected cells. Once the threat has been eradicated, the majority of the CTL will undergo programmed death, except for a small fraction, perhaps 5 to 10 percent that will persist for years as "memory" CTL able to mount a rapid secondary response should the same pathogen be encountered. Properly controlled, CTL can confer protective immunity to a wide variety of infectious organisms and can even be instructed to attack tumors or latent viruses that attempt to hide from the immune system. Loss of CTL regulation, however, can result in unwanted destruction of healthy tissue and pathogenic autoimmunity. The laboratory is trying to understand the rules by which CTL are activated and regulated, and the degree to which they can be harnessed for therapeutic goals.

The labs efforts are currently divided into three main areas. One of these concerns the role of CD4+ 'helper' T lymphocytes in regulating CTL responses. The second area of investigation concerns the elucidation of the instructional program that guides CTL development and the signals through which it can be modified. The third area of investigation involves the mechanisms through which the immune system remains tolerant to self-tissues while retaining the capacity to mount a vigorous response against a dangerous virus or bacterium. The long-term goal is to acquire a mechanistic understanding of the signals guiding CTL activation, development, and memory such that they can be strategically manipulated in to combat human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, MS, and AIDS.

News & Events

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States today. At the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology, researchers are working to defeat cancer by finding ways to boost the disease-fighting power of the immune system. When Stephen Schoenberger, Ph.D., studies lymphomas and leukemias, he doesn't see an insurmountable scientific challenge, he sees hope. " I genuinely believe these are cancers we can do something about," said Schoenberger, adding that he was drawn to the research because he could see "real possibilities" for solving the biological paradox of blood cancers. Cancer Research