Abstract
Stromal cells are a heterogenous group of cells, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells, which are traditionally believed to provide structural and nutritional support to secondary lymphoid organs and non-lymphoid tissues. However, accumulating evidence suggests that the role of stromal cells in tissue homeostasis is much more complex. A dynamic relationship exists between stromal cells and immune cells, and this relationship can be imperative in maintaining the integrity of mucosal tissues. Interactions between stromal and immune cells have been shown to contribute to immune regulation as well as influence the pathobiology of inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmunity and cancer. Here, I investigate potential stromal-immune interactions which could contribute to and/or disrupt immune regulation within the mucosal tissues with a focus on the digestive and female reproductive tracts.
The results from my dissertation research demonstrate the complex relationship between stromal cells and immune cells that may possess many aspects that have yet to be discovered, such as the T cell lineage conversion mechanism driven by MHCII expressed intrinsically by stroma cells in animal models, and the potential profiles of stromal-immune interaction identified in the gut and blood in human IBD, and novel circulating marker profiles of cellular interaction in human cervical cancer relating to therapeutic responsiveness. The interactions of these cells, especially in mucosal tissues such as the intestinal tract and the cervix, are critical to maintain homeostasis and proper function in health. A more in-depth knowledge base of stromal-immune interactions will lead to a better understanding of the pathobiology of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmunity and cancer, and eventually lead to the development of new therapeutics for these diseases, including under-studied human diseases such as cervical cancer.