Julie Zikherman, MD

Our laboratory is interested in understanding how autoreactive B cells, despite chronic antigen engagement of the B cell receptor, are restrained from inappropriate activation and differentiation. We are interested in how this process is disrupted in autoimmune disease, and how tolerance mechanisms can be harnessed to re-establish tolerance. To do so, we are taking advantage of novel reporter mice in which autoreactive B cells are fluorescently marked (Nur77-eGFP BAC transgenic line). Current funded projects include dissecting the distinct roles of the IgM and IgD B cell receptor isotypes in regulating immune responses by autoreactive B cells. More recent work is focused on defining how Nur77 and related orphan nuclear hormone receptors function selectively to restrain activation of chronically antigen-activated B cells.