Keio University Human Biology-Microbiome-Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q) held a seminar as follows.

Monday, 15:30 -16:30 July 28, 20252

Venue: Venue:  Meeting Room 4, 4F Center for Integrated Medical Research, Shinanomachi Campus, Keio University

Speaker:
Mark Travis, Ph.D.
Professor of Immunology, Head of Division, Division of Immunology, Immunity to Infection and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, UK

Title： “Regulation of mucosal immunity by integrins and TGF-beta”

Research Overview
Professor Travis’s research aims to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which immune responses are maintained or disrupted in mucosal tissues such as the intestines and lungs. He analyzes the pathways that support homeostasis in healthy conditions and the processes by which invasions such as infection or radiation therapy disrupt the balance of the immune system and cause tissue damage, from both anatomical and functional perspectives.

Key Molecules and Pathways (TGF-β and Integrins)
The historical and central theme is the local activation of the cytokine TGF-β and its role in immune control. Specifically, the research has demonstrated that the activation of latent TGF-β by integrins is essential for inflammation suppression and mucosal immune homeostasis through regulatory T cells and dendritic cells. This includes discoveries such as autoimmune and colitis models, dendritic cell subsets, and preprocessing mechanisms for tissue-resident memory T cells.