Immunological tolerance and transfusion immunology – Petter Höglund group

One research focus in the group is to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for immunological tolerance.

Part of the:

Our research

In particular, we study natural killer cells in the mouse using a combination of cellular immunology, biophysical imaging and mathematical modeling. The intracellular signals that control functional responses and development under various conditions are studied.

A second question is to ask how various components of the immune system impact on the outcome of erythrocyte and platelet transfusion in humans.

One aim is to understand how antibodies to HLA molecules makes patients refractory to platelet transfusions and another is to study natural killer cells in transfusion reactions. The aim is to develop means to avoid such reactions and to improve transfusion practices.

Keywords:

immunology, natural killer cells, tolerance, platelet transfusions, HLA, intracellular signaling

Funding

Grants

  • Platelet function in leukemia and immune responses to platelet transfusions: clinical and experimental studies
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
  • Platelet function in leukemia and immune responses to platelet transfusions: clinical and experimental studies
    Cancerföreningen i Stockholm
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
  • Towards better transfusion management of platelet refractoriness
    Region Stockholm ALF grant
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
  • Towards better transfusion management of platelet refractoriness
    Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED)
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2026
  • Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2022
    Patients with leukemia often need platelet transfusions to prevent bleeding. These treatments can be life-saving but are also compatible with negative consequences. Often the outcome is also variable, the effects are difficult to predict and side effects in the form of allergic reactions and immunizations are not uncommon. We investigate factors that control how often patients need transfusions and which mechanisms control their effect. We are also investigating why platelets often have reduced function in leukemia patients and to what extent this function can be improved by the transfusion. The project studies patients with leukemia who, due to the disease itself or the treatment, need platelet transfusions. The effect of the transfusion is difficult to predict, and in this project we are studying the factors in the patients that we believe can influence how well the patient responds. We also ask ourselves which properties of the platelets, e.g. storage time and expression of HLA antigens, affect the outcome. We combine studies on patients with experimental models to increase the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the clinical situation. If our projects are successful, they can in the very short term both improve the state of knowledge and improve the clinical situation of many patients, who today cannot be treated optimally due to low blood values.
  • Platelet function in leukemia and immune responses to platelet transfusions: clinical and experimental studies
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Platelet function in leukemia and immune responses to platelet transfusions: clinical and experimental studies
    Cancerföreningen i Stockholm
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Towards better transfusion management of platelet refractoriness
    Region Stockholm ALF grant
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
  • Towards better transfusion management of platelet refractoriness
    Center for Innovative Medicine (CIMED)
    1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
  • Creating universal donor platelets by acid stripping of HLA
    Ragnar Söderberg Foundation
    1 January 2012 - 31 December 2013

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group