Our current objective is the analysis of costimulatory molecules that modulate lymphocyte activation and the adaptive and innate immune response; specifically the inducible costimulator ICOS and its association with the enzyme phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). ICOS is induced in T lymphocytes and some innate immune cells; It is involved in normal and pathological immune responses and in inflammation regulatory circuits. Its signals are mediated by the association of PI3K, enzymes that regulate many aspects of the response to antigen, lymphoproliferative syndromes, lupus and cancer. 

We analyzed the usefulness of ICOS, its ligand (ICOS-L) and the PI3K associated with ICOS as therapeutic targets in immune response to infections and tumors and in autoimmune diseases. We used two different approaches: i) pharmacological (effect of PI3K p110 isoform inhibitors on immune response) and ii) genetic (analysis of mouse models with tissue-specific conditioned modification of PI3K p110α). We study; 1) The role of PI3K-p110α in the activation and differentiation of cells involved in innate and adaptive immune response to infection, tumors and autoimmunity, seeking new therapies. 2) The functional consequences of costimulation by ICOS/ICOS-L and its mediators, in innate immune cells that simultaneously express ICOS and its ligand.