Karine Chemin

Karine Chemin

Senior Research Specialist | Docent
Visiting address: CMM L8:04 Karolinska universitetssjukhuset, 17176 Stockholm
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 Reuma Malmström V, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Karine Chemin is Associate Professor (docent, Immunology) at the Rheumatology Division at the Karolinska Institute and team leader at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM). She is coordinator for the Allergy immunology inflammation (Aii) doctoral school, Karolinska Institute.

    2018-: Senior researcher in T-cell biology, Rheumatology Division, Prof. Malmström´s group, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
    2014-2018: Assistant Professor in T-cell biology, Rheumatology Division, Prof. Malmström´s group, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
    2011-2014: Postdoctoral position, Rheumatology Division, Prof. Malmström´s group, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. “The contribution of CD4+ T cells to Rheumatoid Arthritis”
    2006-2010: Postdoctoral position, Dr. C. Hivroz´s group, Immunity and Cancer U932, Curie Institute, Paris, France. “Cellular mechanisms
    controlling IFN-g and IL-2 secretion in human CD4+ T cells”
    2002-2006: PhD student (Hematology), Dr. JC. Bories´s group, Unit of Immunopathology, Hôpital Saint Louis Paris, France. “Molecular mechanisms of T and B cell differentiation in mouse”
    2001-2002: Master student, Dr. JC. Bories´s group, Unit of Immunopathology, Hôpital Saint Louis Paris, France
    2000: Bachelor degree, Cell Biology, University Rennes 1, France
    1999: ERASMUS exchange, Center of Immunology Turku, Finland
    1999: Laboratory technician certificate, University Quimper, France

Research

  • Tissue-resident memory T cells in rheumatic diseases

    Although the etiology of autoimmune diseases is unknown, a complex interplay between genetics, environment and epigenetics is proposed to be the cause of self-tolerance failure. In my team, we are interested in the function of tissue-resident memory T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). In these two inflammatory disorders, the strongest genetic risk factor is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus highlighting the importance of T cells in the pathogenesis. T cells are vital for defending the body against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria whereas, in autoimmune diseases, T cells mistakenly attack our own body. We believe that, by studying T cells at the site of inflammation, we can understand their pathogenic effector function, their antigen specificity and the mechanisms implicated in their migration and retention in the tissue. We also have a specific interest in the subset of cytotoxic CD4+ T cells sharing common effector functions with CD8+ T cells. We use single cell technologies (SmartSeq2 and 10X genomics) in association with conventional cell biology/molecular biology techniques on clinical samples to investigate the diversity of T-cell populations. Our translational research relies on strong collaborations with the Rheumatology Clinic, KS (Prof Ingrid Lundberg´s team) as well as with geneticist/bioinformatics expert (Dr. Lina Diaz-Gallo). Our ambition is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms driving rheumatic diseases to improve diagnosis and treatment approaches.

    Research Support:
    Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)
    Stiftelsen Konung Gustaf V:s 80‑årsfond
    Reumatikerfonden
    Nanna Svartz Fond

Teaching

  • 2013-: Teaching at PhD courses KI: Basic immunology, #2302, Basic inflammation, #2705, Cell signaling #3049, Cytokines in Inflammation #1626, Translational medicine in the Field of Autoimmunity #2760, Clinical and Experimental NeuroImmunology #3200
    2019- : Teaching at the Rheumatology Clinic (medical students in rotation)
    2021-2022: Teaching at the Medical Research and Innovative Medicine, Uppsala
    2013-2020: Teaching at the Biomedicine Master Programme, KI
    2017 and 2019: Organisation of the PhD course Cytokines in Inflammation, #1626, KI
    2019 and 2020: Organisation of the PhD course Basic Immunology, #5229, KI

Articles

All other publications

Employments

  • Senior Research Specialist, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2021

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