Our Science – LMI Website

Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation

Research

The Laboratory of Molecular Immunoregulation(LMI)together with the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology (LEI)is part of the newly formed Cancer and Inflammation Program (CIP). The CIP constitutes the major immunologic component of the CCR's inflammation and cancer initiative, which spans the NCI's campuses in Frederick and Bethesda and seeks to partner NCI's expertise in inflammation and immunology with its cutting-edge cancer etiology and carcinogenesis program.

The LMI performs fundamental research studies of the role of cytokines and chemokines in inflammation, immunity, angiogenesis, and cancer. LMI scientists engage in the discovery, identification and characterization of new cytokines, study the action of cytokines on target cells (studies of receptors, second and third messengers), determine effects on cell differation and cell death pathways and study cytokine regulation of pathophysiological processes.

The lab consists of four interactive groups:

- The Immunological Cytokine Research Section (Dr. Scott Durum) is investigating the role of cytokines such as IL7 in the development of T lymphocyte and natural killer cell lineages and their role in promoting cell survival, terminal differentiation and apoptotic cell death.

- The Tumor Immunity and Tolerance Section (Dr. Arthur Hurwitz)is pursuing studies of the close relationship of autoimmunity and tumor immunity in animal models being vaccinated to treat melanoma and immunosuppressed to treat autoimmune states (e.g. EAE). He is also evaluating the effect of inflammation and immunity on prostate tumors in mice.

- The Cellular Immunology Section (Dr. Oppenheim) is studying the structure/function relationships of the family of chemoattractant cytokines. Investigating the role of chemokines in inflammation, immunity, and chemokine mimics such as defensins and autoantigens. Along with the regulation of angiogenesis by chemokines, identifying chemokine inhibitors and immuno-regulatory molecules present in natural products and the pathophysiological consequences of receptor cross-talk in regulating the functions of receptors for pain and chemokines.

- The Chemoattractant Receptor and Signal Section (Dr. Ji Ming Wang) is engaged in studies on the role of chemoattractant receptors such as FPR and FPRL-1 in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and tumor progression of glioblastomas.

This page was last updated on 3/27/2009.