Presenter: Li Tian, PhD

University: University of Helsinki

Time: 10:00-11:00, November 15, 2011

Venue: A203, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Abstract: Parallel advances in neuroscience and immunology highlight the importance of bidirectional interactions between the nervous and immune systems to maintain the physiological homeostasis and control inflammation under the diseased states of our body. Our group studies the immune functions of several neuronal molecules, including cell adhesion molecules, innate immune receptors, neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter receptors, to elucidate the roles they play in regulating inflammatory processes and maintaining homeostasis of both the nervous and immune systems. Our research topic covers two major areas:

1) Regulation of microglial activation by neuronal adhesion molecules and neurotrophic factors in the CNS under steady state and inflammatory conditions.

2) Regulation of the development and activation of innate and adaptive immune cells in the primary and secondary lymphoid organs by the autonomic nervous system.

The current presentation will introduce to the audience the current progress in the field of neuroimmune modulation and report our own results in these two major lines of research. The aim of our research is to improve our understanding of the cross-talk between the immune and nervous systems, and to develop therapeutic and/or diagnostic tools for both the neurodegenerative and the inflammatory/autoimmune diseases.