Assessing the role of PKD family members for T cell function

Our research focus on molecular pathways regulating the function of T lymphocytes, which are important mediators of adoptive immune responses. This is of particular importance, since inappropriate or uncontrolled activation of T lymphocytes can lead to the development of diseases such as autoimmunity. On the other hand, harnessing T lymphocyte responses against cancerous cells is desirable. For instance, serinehreonine kinases, which are essential for the signal propagation down-stream of the T cell receptor complex, are potential targets for modulating T lymphocyte responses. Among others, members of the protein kinase D (PKD) family have been implicated in TCR signaling events. However, their exact function is currently unknown. Therefore, our proposal is set up to investigate the role of PKDs for T cell-mediated immunity. By elucidating the role of PKD-mediated signaling in T cells, we expect to significantly contribute to the understanding of signaling pathways regulating T cell activation. Additionally, we hope to identify novel targets within the PKD-signaling axis, which allows the modulation of T cell-mediated immune responses.