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BBSRC DTA studentship: A new knockout to understand natural killers

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000L990
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Francesco Colucci
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	190,298
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2005
End date	30/09/2009
Duration	48 months

Abstract

Thirty years ago white blood cells capable of killing tumours were discovered in the laboratory, which were named Natural Killer (NK) cells. These lymphocytes participate in infections, cancer and autoimmune diseases, as well as in transplantation and reproduction. Precisely how NK cells are activated is still unclear, although we know that a fine balance of positive and negative inputs regulate the activation. Our research aims at understanding how a specific regulatory enzyme (C-terminal Src kinase), which in other white blood cells prevents activation, regulates NK cell activation. To this end we are generating a mouse model that lacks this enzyme only in NK cells. The predicted outcome is that the NK cells in this mouse will be 'super-active' and more efficiently attack malignant and infected cells and, possibly, even normal cells in the body, thereby causing autoimmune diseases. This will help understanding the role of NK cells in these conditions.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	Immunology
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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