Clifford A. Lowell, MD, PhD

Our laboratory studies signal transduction in innate immune cells using knockout mouse models. We have focused on tyrosine kinases, signaling adapter proteins and calcium sensors in neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells. Our major findings have illuminated the function of Src-family and Syk kinases in immune responses to various pathogens as well as in immune mediated diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis. We have also studied tyrosine phosphatases that down regulate these same signaling pathways, primarily in the setting of inflammatory diseases of the lung and skin. Future studies will involve studies of innate cells in inflammatory bowel disease models as well as during fungal infections, using genetically mutant mice. Overall, our goal is to elucidate how intracellular signaling pathways are affected in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with the objective of providing more rational approaches to treatment of these conditions.