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Immunology 2018
J u l y 0 5 - 0 7 , 2 0 1 8
V i e n n a , A u s t r i a
Page 43
Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
ISSN 2471-304X
1 5
t h
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n
Immunology
T
he overall objectives of our studies are to interrogate the roles of pregnancy-
associated glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in immune tolerance of pregnancy,
and exploit their potential immune modulatory activities. Although it was
demonstrated that one of the most prevalent tumor associated GSLs (Globo H
ceramide) acts as an immune checkpoint to suppress T and B lymphocytes, and
as an angiogenic factor to promote tumor growth in tumor microenvironment,
very little is known about the role of this and other GSLs in pregnancy. An
analogy to the immune suppressive milieu of the host microenvironment in
tumor tissues is the immune tolerance of pregnancy. A deeper understanding
of the events and the key regulators involved in the establishment of a healthy
embryo implantation remains a goal only incompletely realized. We expect
that GSLs mediated transfer from human microvilli, trophoblasts, or stromal
mesenchymal stem cells from either maternal chorio-decidua or fetal origin,
could be incorporated into immune cells and that certain GSLs may facilitate
immune tolerance, leading to successful implantation of embryo. Specifically,
we employ the new technology platforms, state of the art mass spec. facility,
as well as expertise in reproductive medicine and tumor immunology, to
explore an innovative concept concerning the embryo/endometrium crosstalk.
In addition, similar mechanistic investigation of the immune checkpoint and
angiogenesis activities will be carried out for uterine tissues and compared.
Through such endeavours, our studies will likely provide a roadmap for
heretofore un-chartered territory of research regarding the involvement of GSLs
in early embryogenesis and the key regulators involved in the establishment of
a healthy pregnancy.
Biography
John Yu is distinguished Chair Professor/Director at Institute
of Stem Cell/Translational Cancer Research, CGMH. He is also
distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at Institute of Cellular
and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, and was the Director
for the same Institute (2002-2009). He is the founding President
for Taiwan Society for Stem Cell Research. He was elected to
serve inmany ISSCR Committees USA, the Steering Committee
of Asia-Pacific Stem Cell Network, and advisor for Stem Cell
Biology, Kumamoto Univ. He was Director of Exp. Hematology
(1998-2002) at Scripps Research Institute, USA. He received
an established Investigatorship Award from American Heart
Assoc. and many other awards.
johnyu@gate.sinica.edu.twThe role of glycosphingolipids in immune tolerance of pregnancy
John Yu
1
Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
2
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
John Yu, Insights Allergy Asthma Bronchitis 2018, Volume: 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-304X-C1-002