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Dr. Alessandra Franco Associate Professor Department of Pediatrics UC San Diego
Awarded: Pilot Project Grant
| Project: Natural regulatory T cells (Treg) that
recognize the heavy constant region of IgG (Fc) are important in down-regulating inflammation. We
defined the fine specificity of these Tregs and mapped the immunodominant peptides in healthy
donors and patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In RA, the Treg response to the Fc has been
found compromised because of the inefficient entry in antigen presenting cells (APC). Myeloid
dendritic cells, specifically cDC2, are the most efficient APC in presenting the Fc to Treg. The grant
explores the role of Fcg receptors II and III, which are often mutated in RA, jeopardizing the Fc entry
for antigen processing and presentation to Treg. |
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Dr. Mitsue Miyazaki Adjunct Professor Department of Radiology UC San Diego
Awarded: Pilot Project Grant | Project: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent
degenerative joint disease affecting many joints of the body, including
the knee. While current MR imaging evaluation of the knee has focused on
morphologic assessment, and newer quantitative techniques have focused
on biochemical interrogation, to a varying degree of success. There
currently does not exist an MR technique that simultaneously addresses
both at macromolecular evaluation, such as proteoglycans in cartilage
extracellular matrix, as well as short T2 acquisition needed to
accurately image deep layer cartilage, meniscus, and tendons/ligaments.
This is a study to demonstrate feasibility ofmacromolecule exchange
protons using Z-spectrum analysis of protons (ZAP) MRI and to gather
preliminary data providing evidence of sensitivity of ZAP MRI to OA, and
how ZAP MR measures correlate with conventional quantitative MRI, as
well as reference measures of biomechanical, biochemical and cellular
changes from histologic and transcriptional analyses. |
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Dr. Elsa Sanchez-Lopez Assistant Project Scientist Department of Pharmacology UC San Diego
Awarded: Matching Funds to further the Pilot Project | Project: Chronic macrophage activation and prolonged
inflammatory response underlies most inflammatory and autoimmune
diseases. Metabolic reprograming and lipidomic remodeling are hallmarks
of immune cell activation, and in particular, choline uptake and
utilization shape macrophage-dependent inflammation. We are focused in
how choline availability and utilization influence macrophage phenotype
and function in human inflammatory diseases by using human biopsies,
mouse models and cell cultures. |
Dr. Nisarg Shah Assistant Professor Department of Nanoengineering
UC San Diego
Awarded: Matching Funds to further the Pilot Project | Project: Dr. Shah's research group develops
cell-instructive biomaterials, organized to function as chemical and
molecular regulators to drive immune cell specificities towards
restoring the immune function of negative feedback. In rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), the loss of immune self-regulation is an important
contributor to the pathogenesis of the disease. The MARC pilot project
grant provided crucial support and collaborations for testing
biomaterials-mediated restoration of disease-relevant regulatory immune
cell subsets, towards developing a durable therapy for RA. |
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Dr. Yu Yamaguchi Professor Sanford-Burnham Prebys
Medical Research Institute
Awarded: Pilot Project Grant | Project: Hyaluronan is a major component of cartilage.
Interestingly, the half-life of hyaluronan is extremely short and its
homeostasis is maintained by rapid turnover, suggesting that
dysregulation of not only the anabolic but also the catabolic arm of
hyaluronan metabolism can be a cause of cartilage degeneration and joint
disorders. In this pilot project, we will investigate the role of
TMEM2, the first membrane-anchored hyaluronidase identified in mammalian
cells, in cartilage homeostasis and degeneration using a TMEM2 mutant
mouse model. |