Patients with chronic or recurring inflammation, including allergic conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis, experience different phases of disease including remission/quiescence, inflammation, and ultimately fibrotic tissue remodeling. These phases are marked by distinct cytokine and cellular components within the tissue. The relative roles of eosinophils in these distinct phases of disease are not understood.
We use a combination of in vitro and in vivo systems to understand how eosinophils specialize in mucosal tissues depending on the varied cytokine environments that they may encounter.
By understanding the phenotypes and functional properties of specialized eosinophils, we hope to be able to identify patients whose biopsies contain pro-inflammatory (damaging) eosinophils, who are most likely to respond well to eosinophil depleting therapies.
Dunn Immunology Lab @ Anschutz 