Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Christoph Wuelfing
Department: Center for Immunology
Room number: NA7.500
Mail Code: 9093
Phone number: (214) 648 7320
E-mail: christoph.wuelfing@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: The role of the phosphatase SHP-1 in NK cell cytoskeletal polarization

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0880-02-03-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) basic research

Brief Description of Project:

Natural killer (NK) cells are early effector cells in the immune response against viruses and cancer. Their activity is controlled in a series of cytoskeletal checkpoints. Furthermore, inhibitory receptors suppress NK cell activity under most circumstances using the phosphatase SHP-1 as a key signal transduction element. Here we will develop dominant-negative tools to interfere with SHP-1 function and study its role in the regulation of NK cell cytoskeletal polarization. Interference with inhibitory receptor action might activate NK cells to more efficiently combat viral infections and cancer.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Mentor of Kenneth Chen in the summer of 2002

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