New paper from PhD student Afroditi Moulara out in Science Signaling
01/30/2026Afroditi Moulara unravels novel regulatory pathway of proinflammatory Th17 cells with implications for multiple sclerosis
New insights into the regulation of proinflammatory Th17 cells
Afroditi Moulara who is currently pursuing her PhD in the Zimmermann lab has recently coauthored a study in Science Signaling on Th17 biology in the framework of her MSc thesis in the lab of Georgina Xanthou.
This work, led by Gina Papadopoulou, uncovered a pathway through which Activin-A reprograms pro-inflammatory Th17 cells by engaging the adenosine 2A receptor, skewing them toward a non-pathogenic state. We showed that this reprogramming is driven by AMPK activation, leading to metabolic and epigenetic changes that reduce glycolysis, enhance oxidative phosphorylation, and ultimately limit Th17-mediated inflammation in the context of multiple sclerosis.
Their findings reveal new therapeutic avenues for multiple sclerosis and broaden our understanding of immune regulation in autoimmune diseases."
Read the full-text here
