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| Understanding the genetic regulatory network that regulates the tumouricidal (M1) and tumour promoting (M2) macrophage phenotypes | ||||||||||||
Macrophages are key cells of the immune system and are ‘made’ or developed by following a specific set of genetic instructions. Macrophages are originally programmed by these genetic instructions to destroy cancer cells (M1 macrophage). However, cancer cells protect themselves from these destructive macrophages by secreting factors that alter their genetic instructions to create an alternate macrophage state that support growth and survival of tumours (M2 macrophage). Manipulating the ratio of M1:M2 macrophages that reside within tumours can improve disease outcome. We have begun to identify and understand the genetic instructions for developing M1 and M2 macrophages. The goal of this project is to manipulate the genetic regulators in macrophages to convert them from a state that support tumours back into one that promotes tumour destruction. For further information regarding this project, please contact Dr Peter Laslo (Tel: 0113 343 8031 or email: p.laslo@leeds.ac.uk). Further details about the research taking place within the Section of Experimental Haematology in the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine can be found at: http://www.limm.leeds.ac.uk/research_sections/experimental_haematology/ Laslo P, Spooner CJ, Warmflash A, Lancki DW, Lee HJ, Sciammas R, Gantner BN, Dinner AR and Singh H. Multilineage transcriptional priming and determination of alternate hematopoietic cell fates. Cell 126(4): 755-66, 2006. Laslo P, Pongubala JM, Lancki DW and Singh H. Gene regulatory networks directing myeloid and lymphoid cell fates within the immune system. Semin. Immunol. 20(4): 228-35, 2008. Spooner CJ, Cheng JX, Pujadas E, Laslo P and Singh H. Recurring use of a gene regulatory network to orchestrate innate and adaptive cell fates in the immune system. Immunity. 31(4): 576-86, 2009. |
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