Eradication of Trm cell precursors to restore skin health.

Chronic inflammatory skin diseases occur in fixed patches of the skin, indicating local immunopathology in disequilibrium with circulating immune cells.

Tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells provide localized immunity in barriers but are also implicated in inflammatory, autoimmune and malignant  skin diseases.

We have identified functional dichotomy in human CD8+ Trm cells according to CD49a-expression with clinical implications in vitiligo and psoriasis. Now we plan to modulate the population of local Trm cells through interaction with their in situ renewal.

Developmental cues, disease driving properties and survival pathways for precursors to functionally distinct Trm cell subsets will be investigated.

These inflammatory skin diseases are debilitating and stigmatizing for patients and cause a high burden on the health-care system.

Our long-termgoal is to normalise the local Trm cell population in sites of chronic tissue diseases by eradicating pathogenic Trm cell precursors with novel drug application.

Our work opens up for novel topical treatments aimed at long-term remission through eradication of specific Trm cell subsets, whilst sustaining Trm cells that maintain immunologicalbarrier functions.