Research Interests

Our research focuses on the molecular basis of signal transduction cascades initiated following triggering of the antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex and costimulatory receptors. T cells play important effector and regulatory functions in the immune system, and aberrations in their activation can lead to immunological diseases. Therefore, understanding of the biochemical events occurring during T cell activation is important in order to rationally devise pharmacological treatments designed to modulate the T cell response in favor of the host. Signaling cascades in T cells involve enzymes as well as adaptor proteins that mediate protein-protein interactions essential for the formation of multi-subunit signaling complexes. Some of these signaling elements are specifically expressed in T cells or in hematopoietic cells in general and, thus, constitute potential tissue-selective drug development targets. We have focused our research efforts on several hematopoietic (or T cell)-specific signaling proteins, including PKCθ, SLAT and LAT.