Soskic Group
The Soskic Group focuses on the molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms underlying immune effector functions, with a particular emphasis on B cell biology and antibody divesrification. We aim to understand how gene regulatory networks control B cell differentiation and activation, how antibody class switching decisions are made, and how genetic variation shapes these processes to influence immune responses and susceptibility to autoimmunity.
Our Group takes a strongly interdisciplinary approach, integrating experimental and computational methods across immunology, genomics, and cell biology. We combine advanced immunological assays with high-throughput genomic technologies and computational analyses to dissect the molecular regulation of B cell activation and antibody diversification. In parallel, we investigate how genetic variation and dysregulated B cell activation contribute to immune disease risk.
For informal enquiries, please contact [email protected]
Group members
-
Blagoje Soskic
Research Group Leader -
Negin Alizadehmohajer
PhD Student -
Chiara Caime
Scientific Visitor -
Pietro Demela
PhD Student -
Laura Esposito
Specialist -
Pietro Marchesan
PhD Student -
Manendra Singh Negi
Postdoc -
Leonardo Nossa
Postgraduate Intern -
Juan Marcos Oviedo
Postdoc -
Irene Sechi
Postdoc
Publications
-
01/2021 - Frontiers Immunology
CD80 on Human T Cells Is Associated With FoxP3 Expression and Supports Treg Homeostasis
CD80 and CD86 are expressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs) and their role in providing costimulation to T cells is well established. However, it has been shown that these molecules can also be expressed by T cells, but the significance of this observation remains unknown. We have investigated stimuli that control CD80 and CD86 expression […]
-
12/2020 - Frontiers Immunology
CD86 Is a Selective CD28 Ligand Supporting FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis in the Presence of High Levels of CTLA-4
CD80 and CD86 are expressed on antigen presenting cells and are required to engage their shared receptor, CD28, for the costimulation of CD4 T cells. It is unclear why two stimulatory ligands with overlapping roles have evolved. CD80 and CD86 also bind the regulatory molecule CTLA-4. We explored the role of CD80 and CD86 in […]
-
11/2020 - Genes & Immunity
Genomic profiling of T-cell activation suggests increased sensitivity of memory T cells to CD28 costimulation
T-cell activation is a critical driver of immune responses. The CD28 costimulation is an essential regulator of CD4 T-cell responses, however, its relative importance in naive and memory T cells is not fully understood. Using different model systems, we observe that human memory T cells are more sensitive to CD28 costimulation than naive T cells. […]
-
04/2020 - Nature Communications
Single-cell transcriptomics identifies an effectorness gradient shaping the response of CD4+ T cells to cytokines
Naïve CD4+ T cells coordinate the immune response by acquiring an effector phenotype in response to cytokines. However, the cytokine responses in memory T cells remain largely understudied. Here we use quantitative proteomics, bulk RNA-seq, and single-cell RNA-seq of over 40,000 human naïve and memory CD4+ T cells to show that responses to cytokines differ substantially between […]
-
09/2019 - Nature Genetics
Chromatin activity at GWAS loci identifies T cell states driving complex immune diseases
Immune-disease-associated variants are enriched in active chromatin regions of T cells and macrophages. However, whether these variants function in specific cell states is unknown. Here we stimulated T cells and macrophages in the presence of 13 cytokines and profiled active and open chromatin regions. T cell activation induced major chromatin remodeling, while the presence of […]
Previous page