Immune regulation by mast cells

Suurmond, Jolien (2016)

Doctoral Thesis

The objective of this PhD thesis is to understand mast cell (and basophil) functions and their role in autoimmune disease by focusing on three main aims: 1. To characterize the interaction between innate and Fc receptor triggers on mast cell and basophil function 2. To analyze the interaction between mast cells and CD4+ T cells 3. To understand the function of mast cells in chronic inflammation In this thesis I showed that mast cells can significantly contribute to chronic inflammation through their activation by Fc receptors and TLRs, as well as their interaction with CD4+ T cells, thereby increasing our understanding of their role in allergy and autoimmunity and providing several therapeutic targets to prevent mast cell-mediated immune responses.

• Allergy
• Autoimmunity
• Toll-like receptor
• T cells
• Basophils
• Mast cells

• All authors: Suurmond, Jolien
• Supervisor: Toes, R.E.M.; Huizinga, T.W.J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2016-03-22
• ISBN (print): 9789462992863
• Sponsorship: The work described in this thesis was funded by the Dutch Arthritis Foundation, whom we thank for their support. Additional financial support was obtained from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (Vici grant), the Research Foundation Sole Mio, the Leiden Research Foundation (STROL), the Centre for Medical Systems Biology (CMSB) within the framework of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI), the IMI JU funded project BeTheCure, contract no 115142-2, and European Union (Seventh Framework Programme integrated project Masterswitch; grant Number: 223404). Printing of this thesis was financially supported by the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, and BD Biosciences.