This week we profile a recent publication in the Journal of Immunology from Dr. Britta Jones (pictured, top row center) the laboratory of Dr. Jane Buckner (top row, left) at the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason.
Can you provide a brief overview of your lab’s current research focus?
Dr. Jane Bucknerās laboratory focuses on identifying the underlying mechanisms by which the adaptive immune response to self-antigens becomes pathogenic in the setting of human autoimmune disease.
What is the significance of the findings in this publication?
This is the first time the source and extent of LAG-3 expression have been investigated in human autoimmunity and our findings further support targeting LAG-3 therapeutically in subjects with relapsing-remitting MS and T1D.
What are the next steps for this research?
Future work will explore the source of LAG3 transcriptional dysregulation in subjects with MS and T1D in addition to exploring the potential impact of disease-modifying therapies on LAG-3 expression.