Computational Biologist TRex Bio San Francisco, California, United States
Abstract Text: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical sentinels of immune homeostasis. We have found that tissue resident Tregs are in part modulated by the tissue-enriched TNF receptor superfamily member TNFR2, with functional validation demonstrating a role in expansion and activation. By integrating a TNFR2 specific gene signature with our database of human tissue data across a range of gut and skin diseases, we evaluate TNFR2 pathway dysregulation in disease, enabling a data driven selection of indications for early clinical development. Leveraging statistics and machine learning to infer tissue specific Treg gene regulatory networks, we shed light on the intricate relationships between TNFR2, autoimmune genetics and Treg functions. Unraveling the role of TNFR2 within the Treg gene network has unveiled crucial functional and signaling pathways and highlights the target’s relevance to dysregulated Treg subsets. The systems-level elucidation of these pathways enhances our understanding of Treg regulation but also provides a translational framework for therapeutic development, offering a valuable approach applicable to the exploration of future targets in the quest to develop targeted therapies for immune-related disorders.
