Guardians of Gut Tolerance: RORγt⁺ DCs and pTregs

 Host

Carlos Minutti, PhD, Immunoregulation Lab

Venue

Seminar Room

Abstract

The intestinal immune system must protect against pathogens while maintaining tolerance to food and commensal microorganisms. Peripheral regulatory T cells (pTregs) are central to this balance, yet the antigen-presenting cells that instruct their differentiation have remained incompletely defined. Recent studies have identified rare RORγt-expressing dendritic cells (RORγt-DCs) that promote pTreg responses to dietary and microbial antigens and restrain inappropriate type 2 immunity. These findings raise fundamental questions about the identity of these cells, their relationship to other RORγt-expressing populations, and the anatomical basis of their tolerogenic activity. This talk will examine emerging insights into RORγt-DC biology, with particular emphasis on how cellular identity shapes intestinal tolerance. 

Bio

Marco Colonna, MD, is a Principal Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2019 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2025, he has made foundational discoveries in innate immunity, including the identification of KIR, LILR, and TREM receptors and the characterization of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and innate lymphoid cells. His work has shaped understanding of intestinal tolerance, cancer immunity, and Alzheimer’s disease and informed the development of therapies targeting innate immune pathways. His productivity includes more than 150 senior-author primary research publications and 120 invited reviews and commentaries. With over 130,000 citations and an h-index of 188, his research has had broad and lasting influence across immunology and biomedical science.

Register here.

About the CR Colloquia Series

Champalimaud Research (CR) Colloquia Series is a seminar programme organised by the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown to promote the discussion about the most interesting and significant questions in neuroscience and physiology & cancer with appointed speakers by the CR Community.