Hosted by the School of Medicine at Cardiff University
The PD-1 pathway consists of the Programmed Death (PD)-1 receptor and its two ligands, PD-L1 (B7-H1; CD274) and PD-L2 (B7-DC; CD273). The PD-1 pathway delivers inhibitory signals that function as a brake for immune responses and has wide-ranging immunoregulatory functions. Signals through the PD-1 pathway regulate the critical balance between stimulatory and inhibitory signals needed for effective immune responses to microbes and tumors, as well self-tolerance. The critical role of PD-1 in preventing antitumor immunity is demonstrated by the transformative effects of PD-1 pathway blockade in a broad range of cancers. Although PD-1 pathway inhibitors are revolutionizing cancer treatment, the mechanisms by which PD-1 exerts its immunoregulatory functions are not fully understood. Further work is needed to understand mechanisms by which PD-1 pathway blockade induces anti-tumor immunity, and why PD-1 pathway blockade works or fails. This knowledge is needed to identify those who will benefit from PD-1 cancer immunotherapy and to develop rational combination therapies. This talk will discuss studies in mouse models that have identified mechanisms by which PD-1 and its ligands control memory T cell responses, T cell tolerance and anti-tumor T cell responses.
Biography: Arlene Sharpe is the George Fabyan Professor of Comparative Pathology and Chair of the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School. She is a member of the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Leader of the Cancer Immunology Program at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, and Co-Director of the Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Prof. Sharpe is a leader in the field of T cell costimulation. Her laboratory has discovered and elucidated the functions of T cell costimulatory pathways, including the immuno-inhibitory functions of the CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways, which have become exceptionally promising targets for cancer immunotherapy. Her laboratory currently focuses on the roles of T cell costimulatory pathways in regulating T cell tolerance, effective antimicrobial and antitumor immunity, and translating fundamental understanding of T cell costimulation into new therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. She has published over 300 papers and was listed by Thomas Reuters as one of the most Highly Cited Researchers (top 1%) in 2014-2018 and a 2016 Citation Laureate. Prof. Sharpe is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences.
- Join via Zoom: https://cardiff.zoom.us/j/86415699283?pwd=YTN3eWVKbXh0M3hqTkYzeEo3U2VGUT09
- Meeting ID: 864 1569 9283
- Password: 531790