Salema Jafri

Now at

Arcus Biosciences

Supervisor: Professor Nick Morrell

Title: Examining the role of BMPR-II on lymphopoeisis and its impact on the pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease of pulmonary vascular remodelling that leads to right heart failure if left untreated. It is linked with mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type II receptor (BMPR-II) and also diseases with immune dysfunction. However, precise involvement of T and B lymphocytes in PAH pathology remains unknown. Pilot data from our lab revealed altered T and B cell developmental potential in bone marrow progenitors from BMPR-II haploinsufficient mice. This project therefore aims to investigate the role of BMP signalling in T and B cell development by studying individual transcription factors involved in lymphocyte lineage commitment. We will further investigate the implications of such immune abnormality on PAH severity.

This work will help elucidate a possible role for BMP signalling in lymphocyte development and the basis of lymphocyte abnormality in PAH. Understanding the effect of altered lymphopoeisis on vascular remodelling and disease severity will open new avenues in PAH research and potential treatment strategies.