Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded for Discoveries on Immune System Regulation

The laureates of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine are as follows:

• Dr. Mary E. Brunkow, the Institute for Systems Biology, USA;
• Dr. Frederick J. Ramsdell, Sonoma Biotherapeutics, USA;
• Prof. Shimon Sakaguchi, Osaka University, Japan.

The Nobel Prize Committee recognized the laureates for their “groundbreaking discoveries in the field of peripheral immune tolerance mechanisms”. They identified regulatory T cells, which prevent immune cells from attacking our body tissues.  

“Their discoveries have been decisive for our understanding of how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune diseases”, said Olle Kämpe, chair of the Nobel Committee at the Karolinska Institute.

Prof. Shimon Sakaguchi became a pioneer in 1995 when he discovered a previously unknown class of immune cells, which protect the body from autoimmune diseases. His fellow laureates, Dr. Brunkow and Dr. Ramsdell, followed up with another key discovery made in 2021. They discovered a Foxp3 gene mutation in mice, which was found to be particularly vulnerable to autoimmune diseases. Two years after this astonishing discovery, Prof. Sakaguchi proved that the Foxp3 gene is responsible for the development of the cells he previously identified. These cells are known today as regulatory T cells, which are essential to our own immune system, tolerating our own tissues.

The 2025 laureates’ discoveries have established the foundation of the peripheral immune tolerance field, paving the way for novel therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer and advancing prospects for improved transplant outcomes.

The Journal of Clinical and Translational Ophthalmology (JCTO, ISSN: 2813-1053) celebrates the laureates and their groundbreaking discoveries with a selection of published papers on autoimmune diseases and immune cells.

1. “A Case Report of Secondary Glaucoma in a Patient with HTLV-1: Discussion about the Management of Secondary Glaucoma Due to Recurrent Granulomatous Uveitis”
by Kenta Ashikaga, Teruhiko Hamanaka, Mayumi Hosogai, Takao Tanaka, Shintaro Nakao and Toshinari Funaki
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2024, 2(2), 26-33; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto2020003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/2/2/3
 
2. “The Activity of Substance P (SP) on the Corneal Epithelium”
by Jonathan Kopel, Caezaan Keshvani, Kelly Mitchell and Ted Reid
 J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2023, 1(2), 35-51; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto1020006
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/1/2/6

3. “Immunotherapy in Ophthalmic Oncology: Current Trends and Future Directions”
by Mouayad Masalkhi, Noura Wahoud, Bridget Moran and Ezzat Elhassadi
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2025, 3(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto3010001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/3/1/1  

4. “Possible Correlation between Mucin Gene Expression and Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome Secondary to Sjogren’s Disease”
by Natalie Brossard-Barbosa, Matias Agoglia, Maria Elena Vergara, Monique Costa, Ernesto Cairoli and Teresa Freire
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2024, 2(3), 87-98; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto2030008   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/2/3/8

5. “Recontextualizing Neuromyelitis Optica as a Systemic Condition: A Perspective”
by Parker Webber, Brianna C. Landis and Amanda E. Brooks
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2023, 1(2), 61-71; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto1020008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/1/2/8

6. “Corneal Graft Dehiscence in Patients on Oral Angiotensin-Inhibiting Medications: Plausible Relationship and Review of the Literature”
by Jie Zhang and Jay J Meyer
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2025, 3(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto3010004  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/3/1/4

7. “Synergistic Effect of Substance P with Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I on Epithelial Migration of the Transformed Human Corneal Epithelial Cells (SV-40)”
by Phat Tran, Jonathan Kopel and Ted W. Reid
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2023, 1(3), 79-90; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto1030010
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/1/3/10

8. “Possible Correlation between Mucin Gene Expression and Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome Secondary to Sjogren’s Disease”
by Natalie Brossard-Barbosa, Matias Agoglia, Maria Elena Vergara, Monique Costa, Ernesto Cairoli and Teresa Freire
J. Clin. Transl. Ophthalmol. 2024, 2(3), 87-98; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcto2030008  
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-1053/2/3/8