Post 1: 🎉 Excited to share our publication in JCI! Our study dives into the development of pathogenic autoreactive CD4 T cells, with a focus on impaired TCR signaling in autoimmune arthritis. We uncovered how endogenous retroviruses (i.e., MMTV Sags) disrupt peripheral tolerance and promote the activation of autoreactive T cells in the SKG mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. This work wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible contributions of @em_immuno , @yimmieg , Art Weiss, and the Ashouri Lab members. I am deeply grateful for their expertise, collaboration, and dedication to uncovering the mechanisms driving autoimmune disease. 📄 Read the full article here: 🧬 Highlights: We identified a highly arthritogenic subset of naive CD4+ T cells expressing Sag-reactive TCR-Vβ chains. Peripheral antigen encounters revealed impaired tolerogenic responses in SKG cells compared to WT cells. Antiretroviral treatments targeting MMTV disrupted the progression of arthritis, providing potential therapeutic insights. Check it out and let us know your thoughts!