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Cell
Adhesion and Motility in Host Defense
Locomotion, phagocytosis, and adhesion are highly regulated processes
in leukocytes. We study the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes
and their regulation and are especially interested in integrins, molecules
involved in cell-cell recognition and cell attachment to extracellular
matrix for virtually every cell in the body. Current efforts in the laboratory
are directed at developing a more detailed understanding of integrin function
in inflammation and leukocyte integrin cooperation with other host defense
receptors. Many of our studies have focused on signal transduction by
leukocyte beta3 integrins and the functionally and physically associated
molecule Integrin-Associated Protein (IAP or CD47). Another project in
the laboratory involves investigation of the molecular mechanisms by which
cytoskeletal reorganization during cell activation alters leukocyte integrin
avidity for ligand. Finally, the lab is interested in the interaction
of Mycobacteria with the host cell receptors as a fundamental step in
the pathogenesis of diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy. Our studies
are directed toward understanding the molecular basis of this interaction
both for its role disease pathogenesis and host defense and because of
its potential for vaccine development.
Selected Publications:
Schorey, J. S., M. C. Carroll, and E. J. Brown. A novel macrophage invasion
mechanism of pathogenic mycobacteria, Science, 277:1091-1093, 1997.
Jones, S. L., J. Wang, C. Turck, and E. J. Brown. A role for the actin
bundling protein l-plastin in regulation of leukocyte integrin function.
Proc Natl. Acad. Sci, USA, 95:9331-9336, 1998.
Blystone, S. D., S. E. Slater, M. P. Williams, M.T. Crow, and E. J. Brown.
A molecular mechanism of integrin crosstalk: avb3 suppression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent
protein kinase II regulates a5b1 function. J. Cell Biol., 145:889-897,
1999.
Contact Information:
Email: ebrown@medicine.ucsf.edu
Phone: 415/ 514-0167
Address: Box 2140, Genentech Hall RoomN 212 D
The University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, (415) 476-9000
Copyright 2003, The Regents of the University of California.
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