Research focus

The goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control inflammation and immunity. We mainly focus on the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) signaling pathway, which is activated in response to injury, infection, inflammation and other stressful conditions requiring rapid reprogramming of gene expression. Inappropriate NF-kB dependent gene expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and cancer. We are using several molecular and biochemical approaches to generate fundamental knowledge on the biology of a limited subset of molecules that control NF-κB signaling downstream of key cytokine (e.g. TNF, IL-1, IL-33) and immune receptors (e.g. TLR, TCR). The pathophysiological role of our in vitro findings is validated in appropriate disease models (e.g. multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Influenza infection, inflammation associated cancer).

Specific research topics include:

1. Regulation of NF-kB and IRF signaling by ubiquitin binding proteins;
2. Molecular regulation of the ubiquitin-editing protein A20;
3. Study of the pathophysiological role of A20 using tissue-specific gene targeting and mouse models of disease; (see research focus Geert van Loo)
4. Biological function, regulation, and novel substrates of paracaspase MALT1;
5. Cross-talk between TCR and glutamate receptor signaling;
6. ER stress and NF-κB signaling
7. NF-κB signaling and selective autophagy.

SUBGROUP GEERT VAN LOO
(Lars Vereecke, Conor McGuire, Leen Catrysse, Mozes Sze, Stefano Bonelli)