Introduction
Dr. Cerosaletti’s research is focused on the role of the adaptive immune system in the development and progression of immune mediated diseases and the response to treatment.
Current research is examining the role of T cells in the development and progression of autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D), and the response to immunotherapy in T1D. The lab is identifying transcriptional and T cell receptor signatures of islet autoreactive CD4 T effector cells and regulatory T cells that are linked to disease course.
The Cerosaletti lab is also examining the expansion of stem-like CD4 memory T cells in T1D which may serve as a reservoir of autoreactive T cells in T1D.
Additionally, Dr. Cerosaletti has a longstanding research interest in the molecular genetics of immune disorders to establish functional links between genetic variants and alterations in the immune response leading to loss of tolerance, viral response and response to therapy. Current work is focused on the impact of genetic variants in the response to peanut allergy immunotherapy.

Karen Cerosaletti, PhD
Lab Members

Janice Chen

Meenakshi Dunga

Ami Wei
Research Projects

Stem-like memory CD4 T cells in type 1 diabetes

Genetics of response to allergy immunotherapy

Autoreactive T cells in type 1 diabetes
Featured Publications
Shifts in isoform usage underlie transcriptional differences in regulatory T cells in type 1 diabetes.
Commun Biol
Proinflammatory islet antigen reactive CD4 T cells are linked with response to alefacept in type 1 diabetes.
JCI Insight
PTPN22 R620W gene editing in T cells enhances low avidity TCR responses.
Elife
Pancreatic islet-specific engineered Tregs exhibit robust antigen-specific and bystander immune suppression in type 1 diabetes models.
Sci Transl Med
IL-6-Driven pSTAT1 Response Is Linked to T Cell Features Implicated in Early Immune Dysregulation.
Front Immunol

Exploring Alpha: Deep Dive into T Cells Unveils Possible Driver of T1D
A team led by Peter Linsley, PhD, and Karen Cerosaletti, PhD, recently uncovered a clue that could help solve the mystery of why and how T1D starts and maybe even open the door to new therapies that stop the disease.

Understanding EOE: New Studies Shed Light on Complex Condition
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE), a rare immune system condition that’s connected to food allergies and causes serious inflammation in the esophagus. A BRI research team, led by Karen Cerosaletti, PhD, and Steven Ziegler, PhD, launched a study asking some key questions about EOE.

Volunteering in a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial: BRI Team Members Share Their Experience
Without clinical research participants, we might not have groundbreaking cancer treatments like immunotherapy or vaccines for polio, rubella and other life-threatening diseases.

Publication of the Week: Endomembrane Targeting of Human OAS1 p46 Augments Antiviral Activity
Read publication ➡13 Lupus Research Program Winners Share $5M for Work Advancing Disease Understanding and Treatment
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