Project 434694
Phototherapy to modulate regulatory T cells and prevent autoimmune disease
Phototherapy to modulate regulatory T cells and prevent autoimmune disease
Project Information
| Study Type: | Unclear |
| Research Theme: | Biomedical |
Institution & Funding
| Principal Investigator(s): | Dutz, Jan P |
| Institution: | University of British Columbia |
| CIHR Institute: | Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis |
| Program: | |
| Peer Review Committee: | Clinical Investigation - B: Arthritis, Bone, Skin and Cartilage |
| Competition Year: | 2020 |
| Term: | 3 yrs 0 mth |
Abstract Summary
Sunlight therapy (phototherapy) is commonly used by dermatologists to treat inflammatory skin disease. It is known that this treatment works in part in the skin by inducing the death of disease-causing immune cells. This treatment also improves the function and number of immune protective cells called regulatory T cells. We have shown in an animal model that sunlight treatment of mice destined to get autoimmune diabetes prevents the development of diabetes in these animals. We will determine the characteristics of ultraviolet light (a portion of sunlight) that is required to prevent disease such as dosing, timing and wavelength. We will determine how the light affects regulatory T cells in the animal model. This work will lay the groundwork for the prevention of autoimmune diabetes in at risk humans through the use of sunlight therapy.
No special research characteristics identified
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