The development, maintenance and proper function of immune cells is essential for the survival of mammals in a pathogen-ridden environment. Their absence results in inherited or acquired immunodeficiency, the latter of which is the basis of a growing health crisis. Conversely, deregulated growth and development can lead to cancer of the immune system. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer among Canadians.
Our research focus is on airway immunity as regulated by the interleukin-7 (IL-7)-related cytokines, IL-7 and Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP). IL-7 is an essential growth factor for lymphocytes. Defects in IL-7 or its deregulation cause immunodeficiency and lymphomas respectively. TSLP is a barrier integrity cytokine or alarmin, that is also implicated in barrier repair and atopic diseases such as asthma. Our long-term goal is to use genetic models of IL-7 and TSLP function to understand the basic mechanisms that contribute to these diseases and to formulate novel therapeutic strategies.
