Brigitta Stockinger was named Head of the Division of Molecular Immunology, NIMR in 2010. Her lab’s research interests are detailed below.

The functions of the immune system depend on complex interactions in vivo leading to antigen presentation, tolerance induction, activation, autoimmunity and memory formation. We study the requirements for T cell survival and homeostasis as well as consequences of their perturbation. Within the T cell compartment CD4 T cells play a major role in coordinating immune responses and different subpopulations developing in response to distinct signals are involved in either help for B cell responses (Th2) activation of macrophages (Th1) or downregulation of immune responses (Treg). A new T cell subset, termed Th17 after its signature cytokine IL-17 has recently been described and we defined the requirements for de novo differentiation of Th17 T cells from naïve CD4 T cells. This T cell subset is crucially involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. Ongoing studies focus on defining the role of Th17 cells in immune responses to pathogens and autoimmunity and on their interaction with environmental signals through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. The role of this transcription factor in the immune system extends its function to Th17 cells and is likely to play important roles in innate immune responses as well.