biography
“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.
research focus
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.
selected publications
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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