Exit Seminar: Chad Poloni

Functions and therapeutic applications of regulatory T cell subsets in infection and inflammatory disease

Regulatory T cells provide tolerance and shape immune responses, making them important targets for immunotherapeutics and cellular therapies. To better understand how regulatory T cells influence immune responses in the context of inflammation, allergy, and vaccine cellular immunity, we evaluated this T cell subset in the context of COVID-19 vaccines, childhood allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease. First, we found FOXP3⁺ Treg subsets are predictive of vaccine outcomes in three patient populations living in BC, Canada. Second, we found FOXP3⁺ Tregs are predictive of delayed type IV hypersensitivity reactions in pediatric patients, and their identification can be used in a blood-based assay to detect food-triggers in this patient populations. Finally, we show type 1 regulatory T cells can be used as a cellular therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. These studies shed light on the functions and applications of regulatory T cells and provide the basis for future research on vaccine development, allergy treatment, and adoptive cellular therapy for autoimmune diseases.