Reena Agrawal

Dr. Reena A. Rajput is working as Assistant Professor in Department of Human Health and Diseases in Indian Institute of Advanced Research. Her research interest includes: Neurodegenerative disorders account for a major toll to human health hence regeneration of neurons is palliative. They are trying to exploit the homologies of immune cells and neurons especially with respect to expression and function of CD40 and Toll- like Receptors (TLRs). These receptors might be crucial in maintaining self renewal or in differentiation of cells to desired cell lineage.They are aiming to regulate CD40 and TLR mediated maturation phases of the immune cells and reprogramme them to functional neurons.The concept of immune privilege is not a new one and in the rapidly changing world of biomedical science is a factum that is undergoing conceptual change but like all historical dogma has a large basis in fact. The brain is regarded as immunologically privileged, and, as such, has been thought of as an organ where the immune response to antigens is not destructive to tissue or is suppressed. The discovery that neurons express major histocompatibility complex class 1 molecules and, recently, the toll-like receptors (TLRs) is changing the way the field of neuroscience views the role that the immune system, both adaptive and innate, plays in the brain and contribute to neural homeostasis. So the question exists that if the brain is to be considered an immune-privileged organ why does it express a large majority of the already discovered 10 TLRs and of what use is the activation of these receptors if they are to be only thought about as useful in an immune response? In their lab they are examining the role of TLRs in the central nervous system (CNS), these receptors are not only involved in peripheral innate immunity but may also play a role in the development and regulation of CNS inflammation, neurodegeneration and brain trauma. In addition the research group is exploring novel neuroprotective strategies that will reverse the extent and severity of injury.