Molecular innate immunity

Our main scientific interest focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of dendritic cells in both physiological (infections) and pathological (autoimmunity, sterile inflammation) immune responses. Dendritic cells are crucial players both in the triggering of effective and protective inflammatory and immune responses, and in the modulation of such responses to avoid excessive tissue damage, which may lead to immune-mediated pathologies. As such, dendritic cells represent ideal therapeutic targets in many conditions requiring immunomodulatory interventions. Recently, we have identified TLR7 and TLR8 and the MyD88 pathway as receptors of SARS-CoV-2 and activators of the antiviral and inflammatory response by plasmacytoid and conventional dendritic cells, respectively. In the field of sterile inflammation, we have shown that circulating microRNAs dysregulated in autoimmune diseases activate the production of type I interferons by plasmacytoid dendritic cells and proposed this as a novel pathogenetic mechanism in autoimmune diseases. We also have research lines dedicated to the characterization of the immunoregulatory effects and molecular mechanisms of drugs such as phosphodiesterase- and histone-deacetylase-inhibitors. Finally, by an extensive use of multiparametric flow cytometry, we take parts in projects aimed at characterizing the subpopulations of circulating leukocytes in different pathological and therapeutic contexts.