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Sakaguchi Laboratory

Institute of Immunology
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Shinya Sakaguchi /Division of Immunobiology

Research interest

CD8+ T cells play a central role during immune responses against virus, intracellular bacteria and protozoan parasites and also key regulators of anti-tumor immunity. The main research topic of my group is to understand the molecular mechanisms controlling the differentiation of peripheral CD8+ T cells, particularly focusing on transcriptional and epigenetic regulations. Our ongoing/planned projects include:

  • Investigation of the role of the zinc-finger protein MAZR/PATZ1 and its interactors for memory T cell differentiation
  • Elucidation of the function of histone deacetylases for T cell exhaustion
  • Identification of novel transcriptional/epigenetic regulators controlling the generation of memory T cells

In order to address these research questions, we employ multi-color flow-cytometry, next generation sequencing, mouse viral infection and tumor models, biochemical/molecular approaches, retroviral-mediated gene transduction and CRISPR-mediated gene knockout in primary mouse CD8+ T cells.

Schematic figure summarizing our research projects. Upon acute infection or vaccination CD8+ T cells differentiate into effector T cells and later form several memory T cell subsets, whereas chronic infection or cancer leads to the generation of “exhausted” T cells which also consist of heterogenous subsets. Our group aim to elucidate the network of transcriptional and epigenetic regulators governing CD8+ T cell subset differentiation during various immune responses. (part of illustration was taken from McLane et al., Annu Rev Immunol. 2019)

More Information

Recent publications

  • Rica R#, Waldherr M#, Miyakoda E#, et al … and Ellmeier W*, Sakaguchi, S* (2025) “HDAC1 controls the generation and maintenance of effector-like CD8+ T cells during chronic viral infection.” J Exp Med. 222(8): e20240829.
    Press release
  • Gülich AF#, Rica R# et al … and Sakaguchi, S (2021) “Complex Interplay Between MAZR and Runx3 Regulates the Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte and Memory T Cells.” Front Immunol. 17;12:535039.
  • Orola MJ et al … and Sakaguchi, S (2019) “The zinc-finger transcription factor MAZR regulates iNKT cell subset differentiation.” Cell Mol Life Sci. 76(21):4391-4404.
  • Gülich AF et al … and Ellmeier W*, Sakaguchi, S* (2019) “Differential Requirement of Cd8 Enhancers E8I and E8VI in Cytotoxic Lineage T Cells and in Intestinal Intraepithelial Lymphocytes.” Front Immunol. 10:409.