| Thomas
Tedder, Immunology
The major focus of our laboratory has been the identification,
structural characterization and functional analysis
of cell-surface molecules which regulate lymphocyte
function. Cell surface molecules allow leukocytes
to communicate with the extracellular environment
by serving as transmembrane regulators, receptors
for soluble factors or by mediating cell-cell interactions.
Our studies of cell-surface receptors are aimed at
determining how these molecules function, what their
ligands are, and how they generate transmembrane signals.
The laboratory is currently focused in three research
areas:
- Receptors that regulate B lymphocyte function;
CD20, CD22 and the CD19/CD21 molecular complexes.
- Adhesion molecules that regulate leukocyte homing
and tissue localization, particularly L-selectin,
a leukocyte/endothelial adhesion molecule.
- The CD83 antigen that we have serologically defined
and cloned which is a specific marker for the bone
marrow-derived lineage of dendritic cells.
We have expertise in cellular immunology, biochemistry
and molecular biology and are applying a wide range
of techniques in determining the function of these molecules.
In addition, we have generated mice deficient in these
molecules to examine their function in vivo.
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