Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Sergio Cepeda

Ph.D. Student

Sergio’s research interest involves the development and function of intrathymic B cells. The thymus has been traditionally thought of as an organ for T cell development but recent evidence suggests a permanent population of B cells exists as well. The purpose of these B cells is largely unknown, however, making them a new and exiting question in an old field. We have recently identified age-associated accumulation of these cells in the thymus and are working towards understanding the function and kinetics of these cells in both young and aged animals.

 

Awards

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship, 2018

AAI Trainee Poster Award – Poster Presentation, 2018

Publications

Cepeda S, Cantu C, Orozco S, Xiao Y, Brown Z, Semwal MK, Venables T, Anderson MS, Griffith AV.  Age-Associated Decline in Thymic B Cell Expression of Aire and Aire-Dependent Self-Antigens. Cell Rep. 2018 Jan 30;22(5):1276-1287. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.015. PMID: 29386114

Cepeda S, Griffith AV. Thymic stromal cells: Roles in atrophy and age-associated dysfunction of the thymus. Exp Gerontol. 2018 May;105:113-117. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2017.12.022. Epub 2017 Dec 24. Review. PMID: 2927875