DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Immunology

Research Abstract

Our laboratory is investigating mechanisms that regulate immune quiescence and prevent aberrant responses of T lymphocytes using in vitro experimental systems and animal models. Cellular quiescence is a state characterized by decreased cell size and metabolic activity. Quiescence in naive lymphocytes acts to reduce the resources, energy and space, required to maintain a vast repertoire of T and B cells. Thus, strategies to understand and enforce lymphocyte quiescence might be useful in controlling aberrant immune responses during autoimmunity and alloreactive T cell responses during allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Quiescence might also protect cells from accumulating metabolic damage that could result in malignancy. In fact, quiescence factors identified to date, represent potential tumor suppressor genes because alterations in their expression or function contributes to progression of lymphoid malignancies. Thus, strategies to understand and enforce lymphocyte quiescence might be useful in controlling leukemia and lymphoma.

Publications

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