The Colonna Lab

Our study is out in @ScienceMagazine! It shows that CAR-expressing astrocytes (CAR-A) can recognize and clear amyloid aggregates, reducing pathology and restoring microglial homeostasis in AD models. Led by Yun Chen, Alex Liu and @khainotkaiorky! doi.org/10.1126/scienc…

Genetically altered astrocytes that express chimeric antigen receptors offer a promising immunotherapy system capable of clearing accumulations of amyloid-β in the brains of mice—a hallmark pathological feature of #AlzheimersDisease, according to a new study in Science. 📄: scim.ag/3NjPIfP #SciencePerspective: scim.ag/4rgI1oL

Platelet-derived growth factor D (#PDGFD) binds to PDGFRβ in #ILC3s in mice and NKp44 in human ILC3s, promoting divergent innate immune responses following intestinal infections. @TheColonnaLab Learn more in Science #Immunology: scim.ag/4aXJmL1

Excited to share our new work in @SciImmunology, led by @zefachi! Mesenchymal cells produce PDGF-D during colitis, driving species-specific ILC3 programs: via PDGFRβ in mice (IL-22, repair) and NKp44 in humans (type I response, pathogen clearance). science.org/eprint/EFDJ3BJ…

Online now: Immunity in Alzheimer’s disease: From mechanisms to therapies dlvr.it/TR9xxM

How do microglia and T cells shape Alzheimer’s? We review the stage-specific roles of innate and adaptive immunity, from genetic risk factors to precision therapies. Is the immune system a guardian or a saboteur? check out in our review in Immunity: authors.elsevier.com/a/1mgnQ3qNrV3V…

A new Science #Immunology study pinpoints the developmental origin of a distinct group of #DendriticCells that express the transcription factor #RORγt and highlights molecular players that regulate this process. scim.ag/45vKMue

Excited to share that our work by @PatFernRod & @TongWu99 is published: RORγt⁺ DCs are a distinct lymphoid-derived lineage whose development is controlled by REV-ERBα/β, PRDM16 and PU.1, enabling pTreg induction and protection from Th2-skewed responses. rb.gy/lyvce8

Our new study led by Bishan Bhattarai shows that circadian proteins REV-ERBα/β protect gut health by maintaining ILC3 homeostasis. Without them, ILC3s turn into IFNγ+ ILC1s, fueling inflammation. Chick it out! nature.com/articles/s4159…

Check out Research Briefing for our recent paper in Nature Immunology @DuSiling nature.com/articles/s4159…

🧵1/ Excited to share my first publication from the @ColonnaLab in @NatImmunol! We investigated how mutations in the human CSF1R gene disrupt microglia and impair white matter integrity in a rare but devastating neurodegeneration called ALSP. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Our new study by @DuSiling reveals how CSF1R mutations in adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) disrupt glial homeostasis. Key roles for oligodendrocytes, astrocytes & STAT3 signaling. nature.com/articles/s4159…

Congrats to @KedmiRanit’s group! RORγt⁺ APCs prime food-specific pTregs and induce oral tolerance. Infection or food poisoning temporarily bypasses this, allowing CD8αβ T cell responses to mimicked food antigens without breaking long-term oral tolerance. nature.com/articles/s4158…

Find the referenced papers below: Brown: rb.gy/rej77q Mucida: rb.gy/1ulzqt Littman: rb.gy/9v8ke8 Gardner: shorturl.at/vTk7k Schraml: rb.gy/yhw499 Colonna: rb.gy/w50y70

As RORγt⁺ APC gain attention for their tolerogenic roles, Schraml’s group also highlights their inflammatory potential. Key questions remain: How are RORγt⁺ APC specified? Are eTAC and RORγt⁺ DC distinct or the same? What dictates tolerance vs. inflammation? Fast-moving field!

Big shoutout to Brown’s group: IRF8-dependent TC are essential for inducing food-specific pTregs & establishing oral tolerance! In line with recent work from Mucida’s, Littman’s, Gardner’s, and our group highlighting the role of RORγt⁺ APC in this process.rb.gy/rej77q

Congratulations to physicist Carl Bender of @washuartsci and immunologist Marco Colonna @washumedicine, who have been elected to the @americanacad for their pioneering work in quantum theory and immune pathways in Alzheimer’s. bit.ly/42SK87N

Excited to share that our work by @PatFernRod and @TongWu99 is published in Cell: RORγt+ DCs are required to induce oral tolerance. Their absence reduces pTregs and impairs oral tolerance to dietary antigens. Read more: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S00…

Loss of ATG7 in microglia impairs UPR, triggers ferroptosis, and weakens amyloid pathology control rupress.org/jem/article-ab…, in this work we linked autophagy with UPR and ferroptosis in the microglial response to AD @CaiZhangying @TheColonnaLab 🥳🍻🆗

Cai et al. @TheColonnaLab @washumedicine show that, in an #Alzheimers mouse model, microglial Atg7 deletion impairs plaque coverage, increasing Aβ diffusion & neurotoxicity, linked to reduced UPR, increased oxidative stress, & #ferroptosis of #microglia hubs.la/Q036BHM10