T cells are central components of the adaptive immune response. Their activation is regulated by signaling events induced upon antigen recognition by the T cell receptor (TCR). Alterations in TCR-mediated signaling may result in immune disorders such as autoimmunity and immunodeficiency. Despite many years of research, it is still not fully understood how TCR signaling is regulated and how its dysregulation is involved in the development of human diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need of a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating signaling events downstream of the TCR, which are also essential for the development of new and efficient therapeutic approaches for the treatment of immune-related diseases.

Our group T cell Signaling focuses on two important research aspects of T cell biology:

1. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the activation of Lck and Zap70
   Lck and Zap70 are tyrosine kinases crucially involved in both the initiation and propagation of TCR signaling. Our major aim is to study the regulatory mechanisms underlying the activation of Lck and Zap70 and their implications in TCR signaling and T cell activation.

2. Identification of new immunomodulatory compounds
   The incidence of immune related diseases has greatly increased in the last 20 years. Despite increasing progresses in drug development, there is still the need for novel therapeutic approaches showing high efficacy, but minimal side effects. Natural products and their derivatives represent an important source for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Our aim is to identify new drugs with immunomodulatory activity and characterize their mechanisms of action in human T cells.

Contact

Prof. Dr. biol. hum. Luca Simeoni