“The whole appeal of this Institute is that it’s small, very focused, and you have the potential for really good interactions with experts in related but diverse fields of immunology.  That’s why it does well and functions well.”  - Mick Croft, Ph.D.

Dr. Croft is a lead Professor in the Division of Immune Regulation at LIAI. Dr. Croft's research focus is on the cellular regulation of T cell immunity and tolerance, and how membrane bound costimulatory molecules control T cell function.

Dr. Croft received his BSc in Biology from Brunel University in London, U.K, and a Ph.D. in Immunology from Sussex University in the U.K. In 1989 he moved to the Biology Department of the University of California, San Diego as a postdoctoral fellow. In 1996, Dr. Croft joined the Immunochemistry Division of LIAI as Assistant Professor, and was appointed as an Associate Professor in 2001. Dr. Croft was tenured in 2003.

Dr. Croft is currently an acknowledged leader in the field of T cell costimulation and regulation of T cell immunity. He is a permanent member of one of the National Institutes of Health grant review study sections, and has served on many special emphasis panels for the NIH and for several foreign Immunology organizations. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Immunology.

Michael Croft, Ph.D., and his team focus on a number of protein molecules that are members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, a group of proteins believed to play important roles in the ability of the immune system to guard the body against harmful microorganisms. The TNFR molecules studied by Dr. Croft and his laboratory are expressed on T lymphocytes and may be crucial for the effective development and function of these cells.

The two molecules that are being studied most extensively are named OX40 and 4-1BB. Data from the laboratory shows that signals from both molecules control the activities and long-term survival of T cells. Specifically, both molecules may be essential for inducing immunity.

The laboratory is investigating the roles of these molecules in several diseases, including asthma, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and cancer to determine if they could be potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Research is under way to determine whether inhibiting the activities of OX40 and 4-1BB can reduce the response of T lymphocytes.

Another line of research is investigating whether substances that can signal T cells through OX40 and 4-1BB can be used to increase natural immune responses. This is particularly important for diseases such as cancer, in which T cells do not function strongly against the growing tumor.

Nucleotide oligomerization domain-containing proteins instruct T cell helper type 2 immunity through stromal activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2011

Therapeutic potential of targeting TNF/TNFR family members in asthma. Immunotherapy. 2011

Targeting OX40 promotes lung-resident memory CD8 T cell populations that protect against respiratory poxvirus infection. J Virol. 2011

Nitric oxide modulates TGF-beta-directive signals to suppress Foxp3+ regulatory T cell differentiation and potentiate Th1 development. J Immunol. 2011

The tumor necrosis factor family member LIGHT is a target for asthmatic airway remodeling. Nat Med. 2011

B cell-specific expression of B7-2 is required for follicular Th cell function in response to vaccinia virus. J Immunol. 2011

Herpesvirus entry mediator (TNFRSF14) regulates the persistence of T helper memory cell populations. J Exp Med. 2011

Nasal cardiac myosin peptide treatment and OX40 blockade protect mice from acute and chronic virally-induced myocarditis. J Autoimmun. 2011

OX40 complexes with phosphoinositide 3-kinase and protein kinase B (PKB) to augment TCR-dependent PKB signaling. J Immunol. 2011

Antigen-independent signalosome of CARMA1, PKCθ, and TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) determines NF-κB signaling in T cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2011

The TNFR family members OX40 and CD27 link viral virulence to protective T cell vaccines in mice. J Clin Invest. 2011

Innate signals from Nod2 block respiratory tolerance and program T(H)2-driven allergic inflammation. J Allergy Clin Immun. 2010

Virtual optimization of nasal insulin therapy predicts immunization frequency to be crucial for diabetes protection. Diabetes. 2010

Biphasic role of 4-1BB in the regulation of mouse cytomegalovirus-specific CD8(+) T cells.
Eur J Immunol. 2010

CD137 is required for M cell functional maturation but not lineage commitment.
Am J Pathol. 2010

The antigen presentation function of bone marrow-derived mast cells is spatiotemporally restricted to a subset expressing high levels of cell surface FcepsilonRI and MHC II.
BMC Immunol. 2010

Control of immunity by the TNFR-related molecule OX40 (CD134). Annu Rev Immunol. 2010

Tumor necrosis factor receptor/tumor necrosis factor family members in antiviral CD8 T-cell immunity. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2010

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