Research Interests
The Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology (LLB) conducts studies on (1) the regulation of the biological response of hematopoietic and stem cells to humoral factors; (2) the signal transduction pathways which control the growth, viability and differentiation of these stem cells; 3) the cellular and viral aspects of pathogenesis caused by infection of these cells by human retroviruses and (4) the application of these studies to the development of new therapies for cancer and AIDS (i.e. cytokine based drugs, bone marrow protection, immune stimulation as well as gene therapy).
The focus of these studies is on determining the genes responsible for the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, by identifying and cloning genes responible for these functions and studying the regulation of such genes by defining DNA enhancer elements and transcriptional regulatory proteins. The mechanism(s) of synergy which require the action of multiple cytokines to regulate stem cells is also being studied. These studies should allow the identification of the biochemical components that transduce positive and negative signals during hematopoietic progenitor cell growth.
In addition, emphasis is placed on characterizing the cellular and viral elements responsible for productive retroviral infection in leukocytes and the elements necessary for establishing, maintaining and overcoming latent infection in cells. The molecular biology of activation of relevant viral and cellular genes is studied through defining transcriptional control elements. The LLB also studies the mechanism(s) by which these retroviral infections alter the function of the immune system and other host responses. Based on such information, protocols for therapeutic treatments for retroviral diseases such as AIDS are being designed.
The Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology periodically has openings for outstanding postdoctoral fellows. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Principal Investigator via the indicated e-mail address or via regular mail at Laboratory of Leukocyte Biology, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, MD 21702-1201. Applications from minorities and women are encouraged.