B Cell Biology Andrea Cerutti, ICREA Research Professor

Systemic and Mucosal Immunity in Host-Microbiota Interactions

A major focus of our research group is to unravel the mechanisms governing antibody-mediated immunity across both systemic and mucosal compartments, with particular emphasis on how B cell responses help preserve the balance between host and microbiota.

In particular, we are interested in the regulation of antibody responses that take place in the spleen [Sintes J et al.. Nature Commun. 2017], alongside the roles of IgA, IgG, and IgM at mucosal sites, particularly in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and intestinal lamina propria [Magri G. et al., Immunity 2017; Tejedor Vaquero et al., J. Exp. Med.. 2024; Gutzeit C. et al., Science Adv. 2025].

Our studies aim to understand how B cells are activated in these distinct environments and how they tailor their antibody responses to diverse immunological challenges. We explore:

The signals and cellular partners involved in B cell activation in systemic (e.g., spleen) and mucosal (e.g., Peyer's patches, lamina propria) tissues.
The differentiation pathways that drive the production of isotype-switched antibodies.
The functional specialization of each antibody class in shaping microbial communities, neutralizing pathogens, and modulating inflammation.

Importantly, we investigate how dysregulation of systemic and mucosal antibody responses may contribute to immune-mediated diseases, including chronic inflammation, food allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).