Paul E. Love, PhD, MD

Senior Investigator
Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology

loveMy laboratory, the Section on Hematopoiesis and Lymphocyte Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, studies mammalian hematopoiesis. A main area of research is centered on T lymphocyte development, particularly signal transduction molecules and pathways that regulate T cell maturation in the thymus and T cell function in the periphery. The lab has a long-term interest in studying the signaling motifs (ITAMs) within the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). Recent results from this project have identified an unexpected inhibitory role for the zeta chain of the TCR that challenges the current paradigm of TCR signaling and raises the possibility of modifying zeta chain for T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy. A second focus of investigation is on molecules (termed tuning molecules) that are regulated by TCR signals and that function to modulate (enhance or dampen) TCR signaling. The lab has recently conducted investigations into the function of several previously uncharacterized T-lineage specific proteins (Themis, Fbxl12) to determine their role in T cell development. Finally, we have initiated studies to investigate the potential application of our findings to the treatment of malignancies and have begun investigations of the genetic and biochemical causes of a severe form of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) with the aim of identifying new methods for treatment of this devastating childhood disease.

Suggested Penn mentors: Warren Pear, Michael Millone, Ivan Maillard