01
Tissue adaptation
How tissue environments shape immune-cell identity
We investigate how lymphocytes acquire and interpret information from the tissues they enter, and how local physiological states alter their development and function.
Adaptive Immunity in Tissues
How do tissues shape immune-cell fate and function?
Adaptive immune cells continually adjust to the tissues in which immune responses occur. We study how lymphocytes acquire, integrate, and interpret tissue-derived information to determine what they become and what they do.
Learn about our research
Our central question
Immune cells encounter tissues in dramatically different physiological states. What information do they extract from those environments, and how does it change what they become?
Research
Immune responses are shaped by where they occur.
Immune-cell fate is not determined by antigen recognition alone. We study how tissue context is sensed and translated into changes in lymphocyte identity, behavior, and long-term function.
Tissue context
Local physiology changes the information available to lymphocytes.
We study how lymphocytes experience and adapt to the distinct physiological conditions of lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, intestine, adipose tissue, and tumors—and how those environments alter cell identity and function.
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Cell fate
How lymphocytes adopt distinct developmental and effector states
We study how environmental signals regulate lymphocyte development, differentiation, and effector function—from thymic development and germinal-center responses to memory formation, plasma-cell differentiation, and cytokine production in tumors.
03
Disease context
How lymphocyte states influence health and disease
We examine adaptive immune responses in cancer, metabolic inflammation, infection, and vaccination to understand when tissue adaptation becomes protective or pathogenic.
Cell fate
Mapping lymphocyte states
B-cell states
- Core naïve B cells
- Transitional B cells
- ISG+ naïve B cells
- Early memory B cells
- Core memory B cells
- Activated memory B cells
- CD95+ memory B cells
- CD27− effector B cells
- CD27+ effector B cells
- Type 2–polarized memory B cells
- Plasma cells
B-cell developmental progression
EarlyLate
We investigate how tissue-derived information influences B-cell differentiation into distinct memory, effector, and plasma-cell states.
T-cell states in the intestine
We map T-cell states in the intestine to study how gut physiology and colorectal tumors shape T-cell identity and effector function.
- γδ T cells
- Naïve γδ T cells
- MAIT cells
- Cycling T/NK cells
- T follicular helper cells
- Naïve T follicular helper cells
- Naïve/central-memory CD4 T cells
- Naïve/central-memory CD8 T cells
- Regulatory T cells
- IL-10+ regulatory T cells
- Tissue-resident memory CD4 T cells
- Tissue-resident memory CD8 T cells
- Th17-like tissue-resident memory T cells
- Tissue-resident/effector-memory CD8 T cells
Molecular mechanism
Testing candidate protein–ligand interactions
Structural modeling provides a focused way to nominate molecular interactions for biochemical and functional testing.
Approaches
Genetic mouse modelsAdvanced microscopyHigh-dimensional cytometrySingle-cell genomics
Publications
Selected publications
Research trajectory
Studies that shaped the laboratory's current work on lymphocyte state, tissue adaptation, and cell-fate decisions.
Continuous germinal center invasion contributes to the diversity of the immune response
Naïve B cells continually enter established germinal centers and broaden the immune response.
T-bet+ B cells accumulate in adipose tissue and exacerbate metabolic disorder during obesity
A tissue-adapted B-cell state drives inflammatory and metabolic dysfunction during obesity.
Neutrophils license iNKT cells to regulate self-reactive mouse B cell responses
An innate immune checkpoint restrains autoreactive B-cell responses during sterile inflammation.
Other contributions
Selected collaborative papers and reviews.
B lymphocyte protein factories produced by hematopoietic stem cell gene editing
Hematopoietic stem-cell gene editing programs B-lineage cells for sustained production of antibodies and other therapeutic proteins.
Emerging involvement of CXCL13 in cancer development and progression
A review of how the CXCL13–CXCR5 axis shapes immune organization, tumor biology, and clinical outcomes across cancer types.
Affinity maturation of antibody responses is mediated by differential plasma cell proliferation
Examines how differential plasma-cell proliferation contributes to antibody affinity maturation.
People
Our team
We pair original, rigorous science with individualized mentorship, transparent expectations, and active sponsorship so researchers from different backgrounds and career stages can do their best work.
Principal investigator
Thomas Hägglöf, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Thomas Hägglöf is an immunologist studying how lymphocytes acquire, interpret, and respond to information from tissue environments. His work spans lymphocyte activation, selection, differentiation, and intercellular communication, with a focus on mechanisms that shape protective and pathogenic immunity.
Current members
Linh Mai, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
- PhD, Virology & Immunology — Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
- MSc, Virology & Immunology — Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
- Biotechnology Engineering — Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry
Smrithi Jayashree Satheeshkumar
PhD Student
- MSc, Biochemistry — University of Kerala
- BSc, Biochemistry — University of Kerala
Tianyun Jiang, MPH
Research Technician
- MPH, Epidemiology; Applied Biostatistics Certificate — Columbia University
- BSc (Hons), Biochemistry & Pharmacology — University of Toronto
Andrea Amegashie
BEYOND ALBERT Scholar & Lab Volunteer
Sooik Son
Rotation Student
- MPH, Environmental Health Sciences — Columbia University
- BS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Environmental Studies — Dickinson College
Research support & affiliations
Support for the laboratory
The laboratory's research is generously supported and strengthened by an interdisciplinary cancer research community.
News & updates
From the laboratory
Presentations, recognition, and developments from the lab.
Sooik Son begins a laboratory rotation
Sooik joined the lab as a rotation student.
Andrea presents at the BEYOND ALBERT Symposium
Andrea Amegashie presented at the MECCC BEYOND ALBERT Symposium, sharing her work through both poster and oral presentations.
Smrithi Jayashree Satheeshkumar joins the laboratory
Smrithi Jayashree Satheeshkumar officially joined the lab as a PhD student.
Andrea Amegashie joins through BEYOND ALBERT
Andrea joined the lab as a BEYOND ALBERT Scholar and Lab Volunteer.
Linh Mai joins the laboratory
Linh joined the lab as a postdoctoral fellow.
The Hägglöf Lab opens
The laboratory officially opened in January 2025.
Join the laboratory
We are building a collaborative team around difficult biological questions.
We welcome inquiries from prospective postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, research staff, and collaborators interested in lymphocyte biology, tissue physiology, cancer, and inflammation.
Email the labContact
Laboratory and office
Location
Forchheimer Building, Room 416Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461View on map