Dissecting the function of TNF signalling in T cells during anti-viral immune responses

TNF is a therapeutic target for a host of inflammatory diseases. In many of these, T cells
are implicated at some level in disease pathogenesis, and yet our knowledge of how TNF
or TNF targeted therapy affects T cell function, and how this might contribute to disease,
is very limited. The aim of this rotation project is to better understand the function of
TNF signaling in T cells and the critical signaling pathways involved. The project will use
mutant mice to compare the function of WT and TNF receptor deficient T cells in
immune responses to influenza virus. T cells secrete TNF soon after activation and we
have shown this plays a critical autocrine function during T cell activation. We will test
the importance of autocrine T cell TNF in vivo by comparing the responses of WT and
TNF deficient T cells in response to flu infection.