Penn IMIG

Description of Penn IMIG Expertise

Research:

The Koretzky laboratory aims to understand how various signal transduction pathways activate immune cells. To that end, we have identified several novel proteins that are critical for stimulating appropriate cellular responses. To understand how these proteins act, we analyze mice that lack or express mutated variants of these molecules. In so doing, we have identified three key molecules, SLP-76, ADAP and PRAM-1, which facilitate interaction between proteins. By regulating and integrating intermolecular interactions, these three proteins control both development and function of several immune cell lineages. In collaboration with Dr. Mark Kahn in the Department of Medicine, we have uncovered a novel function for the SLP-76 molecule in normal vascular development. In the absence of SLP-76, lymphatics fail to separate from blood vessels. Understanding how SLP-76 regulates this critical developmental event is an ongoing focus of the laboratory.

In addition to studies of adapter proteins, the laboratory is interested in the role played by key second messenger signals.  Ongoing studies are examining the role of DGK in pancreatic cancer.

Research in the lab has informed the community about important signaling events that must occur as immune cells develop and function. This work provides insights into possible new targets for the development of drugs that modulate immune cell function in the hopes of developing better therapeutic agents.

Lab expertise and resources:

• Analysis of immune cell signaling pathways


• Mouse models of immune regulation and immunological responses


• Microscopic interrogation of proximal TCR signaling components

IMIG Collaborations:

• Koretzky, Baumgart, and Burkhardt: immune cell/patterned surface interactions


• Koretzky and Burkhardt: analysis of spatiotemporal patterning in lymphocytes.

Lab members:

• Ed Behrens – Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
  
  
  
  • Dendritic cell function
  
  
  • behrens@email.chop.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Mercy Gohil – Lab manager
  
  
  
  • mercy@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Jashanpreet Grewal – Research specialist
  
  
  
  • jgrewal@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Alyssa Johnsen – Instructor of Medicine
  
  
  
  • Components of human immune responses important for lupus
  
  
  • ajohnsen@exchange.upenn.edu
  
  
  
  


• Martha Jordan – Research Assistant Professor
  
  
  
  • Functional alterations in SLP76-deficient T cells
  
  
  • jordanm@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Scott Lieberman – Fellow
  
  
  
  • Compartmentalization of regulatory T cells
  
  
  • liebermans@email.chop.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Rebecca May – Graduate student
  
  
  
  • Role of SLP76 in NK cells
  
  
  • slota@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Vineet Patil – Undergraduate
  
  
  
  • vineet@seas.upenn.edu
  
  
  
  


• Sheila Rao – Graduate student
  
  
  
  • TLR signaling in dendritic cells
  
  
  • raoshe@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Matthew Riese – Fellow
  
  
  
  • Immune response to tumors
  
  
  • matthew.riese@uphs.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Katie Slade – Research Specialist
  
  
  
  • k_slade@skidmore.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Jennifer Smith-Garvin – Graduate student
  
  
  
  • Functional alterations in SLP76-deficient T cells
  
  
  • smithje@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Justina Stadanlick – Staff/editorial assistant
  
  
  
  • justinas@mail.med.upenn.edu
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Tao Zou – Graduate student
  
  
  
  • Regulatory T cell homeostasis
  
  
  • taozou@mail.med.upenn.edu