The structure of Nijmegen-breakage syndrome protein 1

Gitta Stockinger group project:

Modulation of immune responses by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

(funded by an ERC Advanced Investigator Grant)

In this ERC funded program we are investigating the physiological roles of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in the immune system. The AhR is a ligand dependent transcription factor best known for mediating the toxicity of dioxin. However, its strong evolutionary conservation suggests it has important physiological functions. We showed that in the CD4 T cell lineage AhR expression is restricted to the Th17 subset. Activation of AhR during Th17 development markedly increases the proportion of Th17 T cells and it essential for their production of IL-22 (Veldhoen et al .2008).

More recently Marc Veldhoen, now at the Babraham Institute, has shown the importance of AhR for the maintenance of intraepithelial lymphocytes that protect the intestinal barrier (Li et al 2011). We are using Cre-mediated deletion and reporting for AhR expression in different cell types to study AhR impact in various inflammatory models in vivo, focusing on barrier sites such as the skin and the lung. In collaboration with dermatologists (Frank Nestle, King’s College and Ulrich Mrowietz, University Hospital Kiel) we are also investigating the potential role of the AhR pathway in psoriasis.

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