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    Anguera Laboratory

    Our laboratory investigates X-chromosome Inactivation and how this epigenetic process contributes to female-biased autoimmunity.

    Our Research

    At the Anguera Laboratory, we are investigating how female lymphocytes maintain X-chromosome Inactivation, which is an epigenetic process responsible for equalizing gene expression between sexes. X-chromosome Inactivation silences one X-chromosome in female cells, and this process is initiated and maintained by the long noncoding RNA Xist.

    Lab Mission

    • To investigate the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of the inactive X chromosome in immune cells that maintain transcriptional silencing of most genes while promoting X-linked gene expression of specific genes
    • To determine the genetic and epigenetic contributions responsible for the female bias in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and scleroderma
    • To investigate how X-linked gene expression contributes towards sex biased disease outcomes following pathogen infections

    Interviews With Dr. Anguera

    NPR (February 2024): Four out of five autoimmune diseases patients are women, and scientists want to know why

    Radiolab (August 2021): The Unsilencing” A new study published in the magazine Cell looks at why women are more prone to getting autoimmune diseases like lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

    Join Us Today

    We are always seeking highly motivated students and post-doctoral fellows with an interest in:

    • Epigenetics, X-chromosome Inactivation, Imprinting
    • Immunology and female-biased autoimmune disorders
    • Long noncoding RNAs
    • Genetics
    • Bioinformatics

    Interested post-doctoral candidates should inquire by sending an email

    Interested graduate students should visit the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology (CAMB) at UPenn or inquire by sending an email.

    Find Us

    University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine

    3800 Spruce Street, Room 390EB
    Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539

    Office Phone: 215.898.0567
    Lab Phone: 215.898.9541

    Our Team

    Katherine Forsyth

    Katherine Forsyth, PhD

    Nikhil Jiwrajka

    Nikhil Jiwrajka, MD

    Claudia Lovell

    Claudia Lovell

    Zowie Searcy

    Zowie Searcy

    Natalie Toothacre

    Natalie Toothacre

    Nuriban Valero Pacheco

    Nuriban Valero-Pacheco, PhD

    Emma Welter

    Emma Welter

    An integral T cell pathway helps regulate female gene expression (link is external)

    Penn Vet researchers have revealed a connection between NF-κB signaling pathways and X chromosome inactivation, which has implications for understanding sex-based immune responses during infection.

    Why Do Women Have More Autoimmune Diseases? Study Points to X Chromosome (link is external)

    Dr. Montserrat Anguera comments on this new research.