About the webinar:
In this portion of Taconic Biosciences' virtual MASH (formerly NASH) Symposium, Dr. Kennedy discusses novel findings for the identification of MASH-associated liver antigens which may lead to the development of antigen-specific therapies for the prevention of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and severe chronic hepatic pathologies such as hepatic cellular carcinoma.
Due to the prevalence of obesity, MASH has become an increasingly common disease with limited drug therapies. Dr. Arion Kennedy and her research group demonstrate that CD8+ T cells are key contributers to MASH-associated liver. However, the mechanisms which drive activation of hepatic CD8+ T cells in MASH remains to be investigated. CD8+ T cells are primarily activated via antigens (peptides) presented by antigen-presenting cells.
Dr. Kennedy and her lab focused their attention on exploring whether MASH is regulated by an antigen-driven process and alters the immunopeptidome. Their studies using Taconic's Diet Induced MASH-B6 male mice revealed upregulation of proteins necessary for antigen presentation in MASH livers. They examined the immunopeptidome and identified unique peptides that regulate the activation of hepatic CD8+ T cells and MASH progression.
