Autoimmunity
Introduction
The Buckner Lab is focused on identifying the underlying mechanisms by which regulation of the adaptive immune response fails or is overcome in the setting of human autoimmunity. Our multipronged approach integrates the study of genes associated with disease risk, the study of lymphocyte populations implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease and the analysis of carefully curated biological samples from well-characterized subjects with type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and relapsing polychondritis.
The goal in all of our studies is to understand how pathways known to regulate the immune response are altered in the setting of disease, and further when and how these mechanisms of failed tolerance contribute to the development and progression of human disease.
BRI President
Jane Buckner, MD
President, BRI; Member; Principal Investigator, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
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Lab Members
Aleah DeSchmidt
Research Technician, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Victor Lui, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
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Ethan McClain
Research Technician, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Arpit Mishra, PhD
Staff Scientist, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Emma Mortensen
Research Technician, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Sylvia Posso
Translational Research Project Manager, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Cliff Rims
Research Technician, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Jing Song, PhD
Staff Scientist, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Megan Tatum, BS
Research Technician, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Ritika Tewari, PhD
Staff Scientist, Buckner Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Soo Jung Yang, PhD
Research Assistant Member; Principal Investigator, Yang Lab; Center for Translational Immunology
Research Projects
Altered T cell function in human autoimmune disease
The Buckner lab has a long-standing interest in understanding how T cell function is altered in human autoimmune disease.
Antigen-specific T cells in autoimmunity
Antigen-specific T cells play a central role in the adaptive immune response, driving the cellular response to foreign antigens and maintaining immune tolerance to self-antigens as well as contributing to the formation of immunological memory.
Regulatory T cells in the context of autoimmune disease
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) defined by expression of CD4, CD25 and the transcription factor FOXP3 play an essential role in maintaining immune tolerance and preventing the development of autoimmunity by suppressing effector T cell (Teff) proliferation and cytokine production.
Featured Publications
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Oct 2022
IL-6-targeted therapies directed to cytokine or receptor blockade drive distinct alterations in T cell function.
JCI InsightSpeake C, Habib T, Lambert K, Hundhausen C, Lord S, Dufort MJ, Skinner SO, Hu A, Kinsman M, Jones BE, Maerz MD, Tatum M, Hocking AM, Nepom GT, Greenbaum CJ, Buckner JH -
Oct 2022
Pancreatic islet-specific engineered Tregs exhibit robust antigen-specific and bystander immune suppression in type 1 diabetes models.
Sci Transl MedYang SJ, Singh AK, Drow T, Tappen T, Honaker Y, Barahmand-Pour-Whitman F, Linsley PS, Cerosaletti K, Mauk K, Xiang Y, Smith J, Mortensen E, Cook PJ, Sommer K, Khan I, Liggitt D, Rawlings DJ, Buckner JH -
Jul 2022
IL-6-Driven pSTAT1 Response Is Linked to T Cell Features Implicated in Early Immune Dysregulation.
Front ImmunolLambert K, Diggins KE, Jones BE, Hundhausen C, Maerz MD, Hocking AM, Sanda S, Greenbaum CJ, Linsley PS, Cerosaletti K, Buckner JH -
Feb 2022
Fewer LAG-3+ T Cells in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes.
J ImmunolJones BE, Maerz MD, Bahnson HT, Somasundaram A, McCarthy LH, Speake C, Buckner JH -
Mar 2021
Shared recognition of citrullinated tenascin-C peptides by T and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis.
JCI InsightSong J, Schwenzer A, Wong A, Turcinov S, Rims C, Martinez LR, Arribas-Layton D, Gerstner C, Muir VS, Midwood KS, Malmström V, James EA, Buckner JH
May 7, 2025
Finding the Root Cause of Lupus
For more than 20 years, Steven Ziegler, PhD, has wondered if an altered version of a protein might play a key role in autoimmune diseases. Now, he finally has the tools to investigate further – and his work could lead to key insights about how and why lupus happens.
May 7, 2025
A New Approach to Autoimmune Disease Treatment Takes a Big Step Forward
BRI’s Buckner Lab has been pioneering an innovative approach that turns cells that cause T1D into cells that protect you from T1D. Now, new research from Soo Jung Yang, PhD, and Ritika Tewari, PhD, shows this strategy may help treat other autoimmune diseases too.
February 10, 2025
Innovation Grant Yields Exciting Advances and Additional Funding
Learn how lab-grown human beta cells are helping Eddie James, PhD, and other BRI researchers answer important questions in type 1 diabetes.
News
News
Why are Autoimmune Diseases So Prevalent in Women?
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Press Release
Benaroya Research Institute Awarded $11 Million Across Eight Grants in Second Half of 2024 to Predict, Prevent, Reverse and Cure Immune System Diseases
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Press Release
