Prof. Dr. Susana Minguet

Our work is centered in understanding the molecular mechanisms leading to the activation of T and B lymphocytes.

One of the main focuses of our group is to find out how T lymphocytes transmit the information of ligand binding to their antigen receptors across the plasma membrane and which signaling mechanisms regulate activation. We are motivated by the translational and synthetic applications of this knowledge, with special focus in the complex interplay between the biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix and T cell motility to improve tumor immunotherapy against cancer.

We are also much interested in understanding the nano-organization of the B cell antigen receptor and the mechanisms by which defective B cell activation leads to immunopathologies.

10 selected publications:

• Caveolin-1: The Unnoticed Player in TCR and BCR Signaling.
  Fiala GJ, Minguet S (2018).
  Adv Immunol. 137:83-133.
• Caveolin-1-dependent nanoscale organization of the BCR regulates B cell tolerance.
  Minguet S§, Kläsener K, Schaffer AM, Fiala GJ, Osteso-Ibánez T, Raute K, Navarro-Lérida I, Hartl FA, Seidl M, Reth M, Del Pozo MA (2017).
  Nat Immunol. 10:1150-1159.
  §Corresponding author.
• The Allostery Model of TCR Regulation.
  Schamel WW, Alarcon B, Höfer T, Minguet S.
  J Immunol. 2017 Jan 1;198(1):47-52.
• A cholesterol-based allostery model of T cell receptor phosphorylation.
  Swamy M, Beck-Garcia K, Beck-Garcia E, Hartl FA, Morath A, Yousefi OS, Dopfer EP, Molnár E, Schulze AK, Blanco R, Borroto A, Martín-Blanco N, Alarcon B, Höfer T, Minguet S§, Schamel WW.§
  Immunity. 2016 May 17;44(5):1091-101.
  §Corresponding authors.
• Caveolin-1 regulates TCR signal strength and regulatory T cell differentiation into alloreactive T cells
  Schönle A, Hartl FA, Mentzel J, Rauch KS, Wohlfeil SA, Nöltner T, Hechinger AK, Melchinger W, Fehrenbach K, Guadamillas MC, Prestipino A, Follo M, Prinz G, Ruess AK, Pfeifer D, Pozo MA, Schmitt-Graeff A, Duyster J, Blazar BR, Schachtrup K, Minguet S§ and Zeiser R§.
  Blood. 2016 Apr 14;127(15):1930-9.
  §Corresponding authors.
• Kidins220/ARMS binds to the B cell antigen receptor and regulates B cell development and activation
  Fiala GJ, Janowska I, Prutek, F, Hobeika E, Satapathy A, Sprenger A, Plum T, Seidl M, Dengjel J, Reth M, Cesca F, Brummer T, Minguet S§ and Schamel WWA§.
  J Exp Med 2015 Sep 21;212(10):1693-708.
  §Corresponding authors.
• Biomechanical remodeling of the microenvironment by stromal caveolin-1 favors tumor invasion and metastais.
  Goetz JG*, Minguet S*, Navarro I, Samaniego R, Tello M, Calvo E, Lazcano JJ, Osteso T, Pellinen T, Echarri A, Cerezo A, Garcia R, Keely PJ, Sánchez-Mateos P, Cukierman E, Del Pozo MA.br /> Cell. 2011 (146):148-63.
  *Shared first authorship.
• Enhanced B cell activation mediated by TLR4 and BCR crosstalk.
  Minguet S§, Huber M, Freudenberg MA, Pollmer C, Reth M, Schamel WW. Eur J Immunol. 2008 Sep;38(9):2475-87
  §Corresponding author.
• Full activation of the T cell receptor requires both clustering and conformational changes at CD3.
  Minguet S, Swamy M, Alarcon B, Luescher IF, Schamel WW.
  Immunity. 2007 (1): 43-54.
• A population of c-Kitlow(CD45/TER119)- hepatic cell progenitors of 11-dpc mouse embryo liver reconstitutes cell-depleted liver organoids.
  Minguet S, Gonzalo P, Martínez-M JA, de Andrés B, Salas C, Gaspar ML, Marcos MAR.
  J Clin Invest 2003 (8): 1152.