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The Turley Lab is interested in deciphering how the interactions between antigen presenting cells and CD4 and CD8 T cells can lead to tolerance or immunity. We study molecular and cellular aspects of antigen presentation in diseases such as type-1 diabetes, enteritis, and pancreatic cancer. Combining animal models of disease, multiparameter cytofluorimetry, and high resolution imaging technologies, we explore endocytosis, transport, and/or processing of antigen by several populations of antigen presenting cells including dendritic cells, macrophages, and lymph node stromal cells. The broad goal of our work is to understand how the microenvironments of healthy, inflamed, and malignant tissues influence the biology of these key antigen presenting cells and their interactions with CD4 and CD8 T cells. Ultimately, elucidating the steps leading to primary immune responses against self-antigens should provide the necessary framework for enhancing this process in cancer and dampening it in autoimmune diseases.
Research projects:
