Life Science Mentor Colloquium :: Armando Villalta, PhD

Life Science Mentor Colloquium :: Armando Villalta, PhD

February 26, 2019

12:00 pm / 1:00 pm

Armando Villalta, PH.D.

Physiology and Biophysics

Institute for Immunology

University of California, Irvine

 

“Immunity in muscular dystrophy: the good, the bad and the regulation

 

 

Activation of the immune system following injury is a response conserved in nearly all tissues. Acute muscle trauma triggers immune cell recruitment and inflammation to guide regeneration and the restoration of tissue homeostasis, culminating in complete resolution of the inflammatory response. However, in degenerative disease like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), sustained and asynchronous bouts of muscle injury chronically activate the immune system, causing dysregulation of inflammatory responses that normally facilitate muscle regeneration. Such dysregulation of the immune response to muscle injury is viewed as a key pathogenic event, that regulates the progression and severity of DMD. My laboratory aims to study this dysregulation with a key interest in defining the cellular and molecular regulation of immune responses that exacerbate  muscle injury and those that promote regeneration. In this regard, the role of regulatory T cells in muscular dystrophy will be discussed, emphasizing their role in regulating the balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ inflammation. Our experience in ameliorating the severity of muscular dystrophy by targeting Tregs highlights an opportunity to leverage the suppressive activity of Tregs to suppress immunity and tolerize DMD patients to gene therapy.

 

 

Tuesday, February 26th, 2019

12:00 noon

158 Hershey Hall

 

Host: Ketema Paul

Refreshments will be served