Dr. Gregory Sonnenberg
Dr. Gregory F. Sonnenberg, newly recruited to the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has published breakthrough findings in Science on how the immune system prevents chronic inflammation in the intestine. In earlier research, he and his team had identified a new member of the innate immune system – innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) which interact with T cells in the GI tract. The new findings in Science reveal that ILCs directly educate T cells in the intestine to not attack beneficial bacteria, and that impairment of ILC function leads to severe intestinal inflammation. Critically, they also demonstrate that loss of MHCII (a type of machinery that delivers signals to T cells) on ILCs is linked to pro-inflammatory cells in patients with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
These advances, explains Dr. Sonnenberg, suggest that there may be an efficient way to eliminate pro-inflammatory T cells and restore a state of health in the intestine. A significant portion of the body's total immune system is located in the GI tract, and the ongoing research in the Sonnenberg laboratory remains focused on finding new and better ways to treat IBD, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
This study included researchers from around the world and the lead author is a postdoctoral associate in medicine, Dr. Matthew R. Hepworth, who is working in Dr. Sonnenberg's laboratory.