Dynamics of T-cell recruitment and polarization in inflammatory skin diseases

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease in which the T-cells (type of blood cells involved in fighting infection) mistakenly attacks the cells within the body leading to formation read scaly patches or plaques on the skin. Plaque Psoriasis that occurs in 80-90% of the patients is associated with anxiety and depression that negatively affects patients social and economical situation. The current treatment options for psoriasis are expensive and require a long-term commitment from the patients to prevent disease relapse. There are no options for complete cure. The current understanding of the disease is that the pathogenic T-cells are only residing in skin and therefore, most of the treatment options available are skin directed. Recent studies and clinical observation suggest otherwise. We propose a study to identify these pathogenic T-cells in blood that will likely explain the cause for relapse of the disease and limitations of current treatment protocol.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robert Gniadecki

Student:

Partner:

SunPharma

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta

Program: