Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2006

Mentor: Christoph Wuelfing
Department: Center for Immunology
Room number: NA7.500
Mail Code: 9093
Phone number: 214 648 7320
Fax number: 214 648 7331
E-mail: Christoph.Wuelfing@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: Enhancing the anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
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 named for their intrinsic ability to kill tumor cells. However, against a lot of tumors NK cells only kill suboptimally. The principal killing mechanism of NK cells is the release of the contents of cytotoxic granules towards the tumor target cell. This requires that the NK cells effectively polarize their secretory machinery. In previous work we have shown that this polarization is often inefficient in the interaction of NK cells with tumor target cells. Drawing on our investigation of the regulation of cellular polarization of a second lymphocyte, the T cell, we have developed a strategy to enhance NK cell polarization as a means to improve tumor target cell lysis. Preliminary data support the validity of the approach. A project each will be available in the implementation of the strategy and in the further investigation of T cell polarization. Projects include video fluorescence microscopy to visualize polarization, molecular biology to generate reagents to enhance it, and functional assays for target cell lysis.
Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Four summer medical student internships, the latest with Shining Sun

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