Dr Nicola Rogers

Autoimmune Regulation

Our research is directed towards understanding the immunopathology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease, the hallmark of which is the loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens. Systemic tissue damage is thought to result from the deposition of immune complexes due to high level autoantibody production combined with inadequate clearange mechanisms.

In collaboration with Prof Morley we are using the BXSB model to address the causes of the loss of tolerance at the T cell level. Projects are currently underway to interogate aspects of both peripheral and central tolerance mechanisms. This research is funded by an ARC Programme Grant.

 

 

Current research publications:

Haywood MEK, Rogers NJ, Rose SE, Boyle J, McDermott A, Rankin JM, Thiruudaian V, Lewis MR, Fossati-Jimack L, Izui S, Walport MJ and Morley BM (2004) Dissection of BXSB Lupus phenotype using mice congenic for chromosome 1 demonstrates that separate intervals direct different aspects of disease. J Immunol 173:4277-4285

Game DS, Rogers NJ and Lechler RI (2005) Acquisition of HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules by T cells from antigen presenting cells amplifies human alloresponses. Am J Transplant 5(7):1614-1625

Rogers NJ, Game DS, Camara NOS, Jackson I, Lombardi G and Lechler RI (2005) Distinct effects of CD86-mediated costimulation on resting versuss activated human T cells. Eur J Immunol 35(10):2909-2919

Rogers NH, Jackson I, Jordan WJ, Lombardi G and Lechler RI (2003) CD40 can costimulate human memory T cells and favours IL-10 secretion. Eur J Immunol 33:1094