Immunogenetics Group
Inflammatory Cell Recruitment
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Donald Cook, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator -
Tel (919) 541-4035
Fax (919) 541-4133
cookd@niehs.nih.gov -
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop D2-01
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Delivery Instructions
Research Summary
The Immunogenetics Group uses genetic approaches to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to either immunogenic or tolerogenic responses to inhaled allergens.
The activation state and trafficking patterns of pulmonary dendritic cells largely determine the nature of immune responses to aeroallergens. The group uses gene-targeted mice that individually lack different chemokine receptors and signaling molecules to study the function of these genes in dendritic cell trafficking and maturation. In addition, the group studies the effects of different environmental agents, such as endotoxin and ozone, on the ability of pulmonary dendritic cells to confer immunogenic or tolerogenic responses to inhaled allergens.
Major areas of research:
- The cellular and molecular mechanisms that control or regulate ongoing allergic pulmonary inflammation ("/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_contentid=53092&sys_revision=3&sys_variantid=639&sys_context=0&sys_authtype=0&sys_siteid=&sys_folderid=" sys_dependentvariantid="639" sys_dependentid="53092" inlinetype="rxhyperlink" rxinlineslot="103" sys_dependentid="53092" sys_siteid="" sys_folderid="")
- The mechanisms whereby environmental agents promote allergic sensitization through the airway ("/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_contentid=53092&sys_revision=3&sys_variantid=639&sys_context=0&sys_authtype=0&sys_siteid=&sys_folderid=" sys_dependentvariantid="639" sys_dependentid="53092" inlinetype="rxhyperlink" rxinlineslot="103" sys_dependentid="53092" sys_siteid="" sys_folderid="")
- The roles of pulmonary dendritic cell subsets in the initiation of allergic responses to inhaled antigens ("/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_contentid=53092&sys_revision=3&sys_variantid=639&sys_context=0&sys_authtype=0&sys_siteid=&sys_folderid=" sys_dependentvariantid="639" sys_dependentid="53092" inlinetype="rxhyperlink" rxinlineslot="103" sys_dependentid="53092" sys_siteid="" sys_folderid="")
Current projects:
- Investigating the impact of inhaled microbial products on allergic sensitization to airborne allergens
- Investigating the immunologic mechanisms that promote tolerogenic responses to airborne allergens
- Functional analysis of dendritic cell subsets in the lung and draining lymph nodes
Donald N. Cook, Ph.D., head of the Immunogenetics Group, earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He has published 43 peer-reviewed articles in leading biomedical journals as well as several book chapters. Cook served as a principal scientist at Schering-Plough Research Institute and as an assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Duke University before joining NIEHS in 2005.
