THE ROLE OF MUCOSAL-ASSOCIATED INVARIANT T (MAIT) CELLS AND GUT MICRO-BIOTA IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF PAEDIATRIC AUTOIMMUNE LIVER DISEASE (AILD)

Abstract

Liver disease can develop when a faulty immune system attacks the liver, occasionally leading to significant liver scarring and liver transplantation. Children who develop this condition need life-long treatment, but not every child responds. I intend to study immune cells and their activity in the blood and liver of affected children. By identifying the role of the immune system in liver inflammation, we hope to find out why children develop this disease and how best to treat them.