Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9899
ISSN: 2155-9899
Li Wang
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Cell Immunol
V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel negative checkpoint ligand that suppresses T-cell mediated immune responses. Previous studies using VISTA-neutralizing monoclonal antibody show that VISTA-blockade enhances T cell-activation in an inflammatory disease model EAE, as well as in murine tumor models. Current study describes a comprehensive characterization of VISTA knockout (KO) mice. We show that despite the apparent normal hematopoietic development in young KO mice, VISTA genetic deficiency leads to a pro-inflammatory phenotype in aged animals, as well as enhanced T-cell activation in response to acute antigen immunization. In addition, we show that VISTA deficiency significantly enhanced disease development in a spontaneous model of autoimmune disease, which is correlated with the spontaneous activation of auto-antigen specific CD4+ T cells. Lastly, when combined with the genetic deficiency of another checkpoint molecule, synergistic or additive immune activation was observed.
Li Wang completed her PhD at Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at Dartmouth,and completed her Postdoctoral studies with Dr. Owen N Witte at UCLA, as well as with Dr. Randolph J Noelle at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She made seminal findings of a novel immune checkpoint regulator, named V-domain Immunoglobulin Suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA). She joined the Department of Microbiology and Immunology as an Assistant Professor in 2012.