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Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group


Steven L. Reiner, M.D.
Professor, Dept of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute;
Chair, Immunology Graduate Group

Cancer Biology Program


Address

Biomedical Rsch Bldg (BRB) II/III, Room 414
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160

Office tel.: 215 746-5536
Lab tel.: 215 746-5543
Fax: 215 746-5525
E-mail: sreiner@mail.med.upenn.edu

Link(s)

Dr. Reiner's Abramson page

Dr. Reiner's Immunology page

Dr. Reiner's Parasitology page

Education

Haverford College: BA (Philosophy), 1982.

Duke University: MD (Medicine), 1985.

UCSF: Postdoctoral Research (Biochemistry), 1990-1994.

Research Interests

  • asymmetric cell division; stem cell self-renewal; epigenetic and transcription factor-mediated control of gene expression; host response to infection and cancer; effector and memory T lymphocyte differentiation;

Key words: asymmetric cell division, stem cells, transcription, lymphocyte.

Description of Research

Diversifying cell fate in essential and unwanted cells

Using lymphocytes as a model system, we recently proposed that asymmetric cell division may be a way for many mobile, non-polarized cells to generate cell fate diversity among their progeny. We are using static and time-lapsed imaging, genetic, and biochemical methods to better understand the nature and extent of asymmetric cell division in multi-celled beings. It is predicted that this will have immediate relevance for the way in which blood stem cells and metastatic cancer stem cells can generate diverse progeny despite their lack of obvious polarity. Studies of lymphocyte differentiation during the immune response should continue to become an increasingly useful model for inquiry into the fundamental problem of regulated gene expression in dividing, differentiating, and highly mobile cells.

Selected Publications

Intlekofer, A.M., A. Banerjee, N. Takemoto, S.M. Gordon, C.S. DeJong, H. Shin, C.A. Hunter, E.J. Wherry, T. Lindsten, and S.L. Reiner. 2008. Anomalous type 17 response to viral infection by CD8+ T cells lacking T-bet and eomesodermin. Science 321:408-411.

Reiner, S.L., F. Sallusto, and A. Lanzavecchia. 2007. Division of labor with a workforce of one: challenges in specifying effector and memory T cell fate. Science 317:622-625.

Reiner, S.L. 2007. Development in motion: helper T cells at work. Cell 129:33-36.

Intlekofer, A.M., N. Takemoto, C. Kao, A. Banerjee, F. Schambach, J.K. Northrop, H. Shen, E.J. Wherry, and S.L. Reiner. 2007. Requirement for T-bet in the aberrant differentiation of unhelped memory CD8+ T cells. J Exp Med 204:2015-2021.

Chang, J.T., V.R. Palanivel, I. Kinjyo, F. Schambach, A.M. Intlekofer, A. Banerjee, S.A. Longworth, K.E. Vinup, P. Mrass, J. Oliaro, N. Killeen, J.S. Orange, S.M. Russell, W. Weninger, and S.L. Reiner. 2007. Asymmetric T lymphocyte division in the initiation of adaptive immune responses. Science 315:1687-1691.

PubMed Search
Search PubMed for more articles

Lab

Rotation Projects

  1. Study the mechanisms involved mediating asymmetric division of T cells, blood stem cells and cancer stem cells.

    Characterize the mechanisms of action of novel transcriptional regulators of immune cell differentiation.
  2. Lab personnel:
    Arnob Banerjee - Postdoctoral fellow
    John Chang - Postdoctoral fellow
    Caitlin DeJong - Research specialist
    Jiyeon Kim - Rotation student
    Courtney McClurkin - Research specialist
    Michael Paley - Rotation student
    last updated 9/2008
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