Disregulated of immune-cell trafficking signaling and development of autoimmunity

Research Project Outline

Dynamic trafficking of immune cells throughout the body plays important roles in immunosurveillance. We discoverd the small GTpase Rap1 in controlling immune cell trafficking, and have clarified the regulatory mechanism. Unexpectedly, impairment of the Rap1 signaling to control trafficking have led to autoimmunity of multiple organs in mice. This project aims to clarify the mechanism and function of trafficking regulatory signaling in self tolerance, and further investigate the involvement in intractalble autoimmune disease in human.