Resident memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+ TRM) play a central role in tissue immunity. This thesis focusses on the formation, function and behavior of CD8+ TRM in the skin. Firstly, by making use of... Show moreResident memory CD8+ T cells (CD8+ TRM) play a central role in tissue immunity. This thesis focusses on the formation, function and behavior of CD8+ TRM in the skin. Firstly, by making use of lineage tracing technology, we show that the capacity to form TRM is instilled in CD8+ T cells before the cells enter the affected tissue and that this capacity remains fixed after a secondary immune challenge. Second, this works shows that CD8+ skin-TRM act as local sentinels that trigger a rapid and tissue-wide immune response upon foreign antigen recognition. Third, ex vivo imaging of human skin biopsies demonstrates that tissue patrol is a property of CD8+ TRM in human skin. In addition, this work describes the development of two novel technologies (i.e. the ‘Tol’ mouse strain and the ex vivo imaging technique) that can be used as such or adapted by other biomedical researchers in order to investigate key aspects of (T) cell behavior and skin biology. Understanding the signals that drive CD8+ TRM formation, and insights in the function of these cells within both healthy and diseased skin, will be essential to allow the manipulation of these populations for therapeutic benefit. Show less
This thesis is focusing on cell-mediated induction of immune tolerance and consists of two parts. The studies described in Part I report the development of strategies for possible treatment of... Show moreThis thesis is focusing on cell-mediated induction of immune tolerance and consists of two parts. The studies described in Part I report the development of strategies for possible treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Induction of immune tolerance, in IBD mouse model, with the use of regulatory T (Treg) cells generated in vitro by specific activation of naive T cells was achieved. Additionally Treg cells were also shown to be induced in vivo and restore intestinal immune tolerance with the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene delivery. In relation to the use of AAV vector, Part II of this thesis is addressing the possibilities of tolerance induction to AAV capsid or transgene specific immune responses which can develop after AAV-based therapy Show less
