Role of hepatic stellate cells in liver immunology and inflammation.

Description of projects available to graduate students:
Despite extensive research for several years, our knowledge of the tolerogenic and immunogenic properties of the liver is still inadequate, and organ rejection continues to be a significant problem. This project investigates the role of an extremely understudied cell type, hepatic stellate cell, in liver immunology and inflammation. Hepatic stellate cells are located between hepatocytes and nonparenchymal (Kupffer cells and endothelial cells). They produce a number of cytokines and chemokines that have imflammatory and immunoregulatory properties and thus can play a critical role in hepatic inflammation and immune responses. Evidence from our laboratory and of others strongly suggests that stellate cells influence the activation/proliferation of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Our preliminary work also indicates that stellate cells can cause induction of Treg formation. Through these mechanisms, stellate cells have profound ability to determine fate of the transplanted liver graft.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
The student will learn the techniques of stellate cell isolation and culture, and co-culture experiments involving mechanisms of activation, proliferation and/or mode of death of T cells, and Treg induction.