Molecular Mechanisms of Lymphocyte Development and Activation

The aim of my START-project is to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and activation of cells of the immune system. One focus of my research is to understand how the differentiation of T cells (one group of white blood cells) is regulated. Not only are parts of the immune repertoire formed during this important developmental process, but at the same time also the two main subsets of T cells (the so-called CD4 helper and the CD8 cytotoxic T cells) are generated from a common progenitor. During the differentiation of these cells, signals are transduced from the cell surface to the nucleus and also T cell subset-specific gene expression programs are initiated. One main goal of my studies is to identify genes that direct the development of the CD4 helper and CD8 cytotoxic T cell subsets. Since "cell fate" decisions in general are important for the proper development of a multicellular organism, CD4/CD8 lineage development serves also a model system to study fundamental biological processes. Another focus of my research is to identify the role and function of one class of protein tyrosine kinases, the so- called Tec family kinases, in cells of the immune system. Kinases are enzymes that transfer phosphate groups to other proteins and generally they play an important role in transducing signals from the cell surface to the nucleus of a cell. Upon recognition of antigens through antigen receptors on the surface of certain immune cells, Tec kinases are activated and this activation is important for the generation of a proper immune response. Thus, on a long-term prospective, a better understanding of the biology of the Tec family kinases may also help to indicate ways for potential therapeutic intervention to prevent human diseases (such as autoimmunity or allergy).

The aim of my START-project is to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and activation of cells of the immune system. One focus of my research is to understand how the differentiation of T cells (one group of white blood cells) is regulated. Not only are parts of the immune repertoire formed during this important developmental process, but at the same time also the two main subsets of T cells (the so-called CD4 helper and the CD8 cytotoxic T cells) are generated from a common progenitor. During the differentiation of these cells, signals are transduced from the cell surface to the nucleus and also T cell subset-specific gene expression programs are initiated. One main goal of my studies is to identify genes that direct the development of the CD4 helper and CD8 cytotoxic T cell subsets. Since "cell fate" decisions in general are important for the proper development of a multicellular organism, CD4/CD8 lineage development serves also a model system to study fundamental biological processes. Another focus of my research is to identify the role and function of one class of protein tyrosine kinases, the so- called Tec family kinases, in cells of the immune system. Kinases are enzymes that transfer phosphate groups to other proteins and generally they play an important role in transducing signals from the cell surface to the nucleus of a cell. Upon recognition of antigens through antigen receptors on the surface of certain immune cells, Tec kinases are activated and this activation is important for the generation of a proper immune response. Thus, on a long-term prospective, a better understanding of the biology of the Tec family kinases may also help to indicate ways for potential therapeutic intervention to prevent human diseases (such as autoimmunity or allergy).