IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Self-reactive CD4+ T cells display diverse differentiation in health and gain stem-like features in rheumatoid arthritis

Self-reactive CD4+ T cells display diverse differentiation in health and gain stem-like features in rheumatoid arthritis

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Video Summary

Sumbul Afroz described how self-reactive CD4 T cells are rare but present in healthy blood, where they are mainly memory-like and biased toward regulatory T cell features. Using spheromer-based antigen tools, her lab compared these cells with flu- and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. In rheumatoid arthritis, self-reactive T-cell frequency was similar, but their phenotype shifted toward Th1 and peripheral helper-like states. Citrullinated self-antigen-specific cells were more naive-like and, in vitro, proliferated more and became pro-inflammatory memory cells producing TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ.

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Date April 16, 2026 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Room 104AB

Session Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms of Autoreactivity

Speaker SUMBUL AFROZ

Track Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

Year 2026

Keywords

self-reactive CD4 T cells

rheumatoid arthritis

citrullinated self-antigen

Th1 and Tfh-like phenotypes

pro-inflammatory memory cells

April 16, 2026 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

104AB

Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms of Autoreactivity

SUMBUL AFROZ

Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

2026