DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Immunology

Research Abstract

Our lab works in the fields of T cell differentiation and Autoimmunity, with a special emphasis on exploiting the most advanced transgenic and gene-targeting technology to engineer new mouse models. Studies on T cell differentiation focus on 1) selection of the T cell repertoire, in particular the cellular and molecular mechanisms of positive and negative selection and lineage commitment; and 2) cellular and molecular influences on naive T cell survival in the periphery. Studies on Autoimmunity explore the immunological mechanisms of diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Major questions tackled are what initiates these diseases, how is their progression regulated, and what are the final effector mechanisms. In addition, modern genetic approaches are used to identify disease modifying genes.

Publications

• Holler PD, Yamagata T, Jiang W, Feuerer M, Benoist C, Mathis D.The same genomic region conditions clonal deletion and clonal deviation to the CD8alphaalpha and regulatory T cell lineages in NOD versus C57BL/6 mice.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Apr 24;104(
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• Gavanescu I, Kessler B, Ploegh H, Benoist C, Mathis D.Loss of Aire-dependent thymic expression of a peripheral tissue antigen renders it a target of autoimmunity.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Mar 13;104(11):4583-7.
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• Liston A, Farr AG, Chen Z, Benoist C, Mathis D, Manley NR, Rudensky AY.Lack of Foxp3 function and expression in the thymic epithelium.J Exp Med 2007 Mar 19;204(3):475-80.
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• Haxhinasto S, Benoist C, Mathis D.Regulatory T-cell differentiation: Committed to control: a precocious choice?.Immunol Cell Biol 2007 Apr;85(3):175-6.
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• Witherden D, van Oers N, Waltzinger C, Weiss A, Benoist C, Mathis D.Tetracycline-controllable selection of CD4(+) T cells: half-life and survival signals in the absence of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.J Exp Med 2000 Jan 17;191(2):35
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• Matsumoto I, Staub A, Benoist C, Mathis D.Arthritis provoked by linked T and B cell recognition of a glycolytic enzyme.Science 1999 Nov 26;286(5445):1732-5.
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• Gonzalez A, Katz JD, Mattei MG, Kikutani H, Benoist C, Mathis D.Genetic control of diabetes progression.Immunity 1997 Dec;7(6):873-83.
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