Behdad (Ben) Afzali, MD, PhD

Stadtman Investigator

Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch

afzali-2Our research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tissue inflammation, injury and repair. Specifically, we study how micro-environmental signals are integrated by networks of cellular transcription factors (TFs) to direct gene expression and behavior. We aim to develop new knowledge that will help prevent inflammation, accelerate its resolution, and minimize loss of healthy tissues from scarring. Such insights are broadly significant and pertinent to multiple tissues and inflammatory settings across different disciplines, especially since there are no specific low-toxicity treatments available. Our approach specializes in identifying mechanisms of gene regulation, especially in lymphocytes, utilizing cutting-edge approaches, including bulk and single cell next-generation sequencing, to dissect these signals, and functional manipulation of identified pathways. Over the last 3 years we made novel discoveries using these methods, including the roles of complement factors intrinsically produced by immune and non-immune cells at sites of tissue injury, and the complex roles played by the BACH2 TF in lymphocyte regulation.

  • Human retinoic acid-regulated CD161+ regulatory T cells support wound repair in intestinal mucosa. Povoleri GAM…Lombardi G*, Afzali B*. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:1403-1414. Abstract/Full Text
  • Diapedesis-Induced Integrin Signaling via LFA-1 Facilitates Tissue Immunity by Inducing Intrinsic Complement C3 Expression in Immune Cells. Kolev M…, Kazemian M*, Afzali B*, Kemper C*. Immunity 2020; 52:513-527.e8. Abstract/Full Text
  • SARS-CoV-2 drives JAK1/2-dependent local complement hyperactivation. Yan B…, Kemper C*, Afzali B*, Kazemian M*. Sci Immunol 2021; 6: eabg0833. Abstract/Full Text
  • Autocrine vitamin D signaling switches off pro-inflammatory programs of Th1 cells. Chauss D…, Kazemian M*, Afzali B*. Nat Immunol 2021. Abstract/Full text.

Suggested Penn mentors: Warren Pear, Taku Kambayashi, Ed Behrens