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Joseph Craft, MD

Paul B. Beeson Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) and Professor of Immunobiology; Paul B. Beeson Professor of Medicine; Program Director, Investigative Medicine

Contact Information

Joseph Craft, MD

Mailing Address

  • Rheumatology

    PO Box 208031, 300 Cedar Street

    New Haven, CT, 06520-8031

    United States

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Research Summary

Dr. Craft investigates CD4 T helper cells in conventional and autoimmune responses in mice and in humans, focusing upon differentiation and function of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells that promote B cell maturation. Tfh-cell dependent GC responses are critical for development of humoral immunity upon vaccine administration or infection, and for driving pathogenic autoreactive B cell responses in autoimmunity. Dr. Craft’s studies on Tfh cells build upon his earlier work in characterizing immune targets in lupus, and studies of tolerance, inflammation, and therapy. His lab also investigates other CD4 T cell populations, including those that promote immune memory and inflammation. Studies by individuals in his lab include those by graduate student Amanda Poholek, in collaboration with Shane Crotty and colleagues, demonstrated that the transcription factor Bcl6 is necessary and sufficient for Tfh-cell genesis. Postdoctoral fellow Jason Weinstein and MSTP student Edward Herman made the novel determination that Tfh cells spatially and temporally differentiate in the B cell follicle, steps necessary for B cell selection and plasma cell formation. Upon activation, CD4 T cells exhibit metabolic changes to meet their proliferative and effector needs, with the understanding of how metabolism is regulated in T helper (Th) 1 and Tfh cells incomplete. Work by grad students John Ray and Justin Shyer, with Matt Staron in Sue Kaech’s lab, was the first to decipher metabolic events that dictate Tfh-cell vs. Th1 cell development. Shyer and postdoctoral fellow Will Bailis in the Flavell lab at Yale subsequently used a CRISPR/Cas9 screen in primary T cells to reveal metabolic requirements for Th cell proliferation and effector function, a tool that will further aid identification of metabolic pathways needed for Tfh vs. Th1 differentiation.

Specialized Terms: T cell development, T cell differentiation and function, autoimmunity; lupus; tolerance

Extensive Research Description

Ongoing studies are targeted towards identification of the developmental pathways of CD4 T cells that provide B cell help and that promote inflammation, and dissection of their potential to promote autoimmunity and inflammation. Related work involves determination of tissue environmental factors that regulate T cell metabolism and effector function at inflammatory sites, such as tissues damaged in autoimmunity.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; Autoimmune Diseases; Biology; Immunity; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Investigative Techniques; Rheumatology; Cytokines

Selected Publications

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