Research
Supervisor: Andrew McKenzie
Type-2 immune responses are important for combating parasitic worm infections but can also result in allergies and asthma. Molecules involved in the initiation of type-2 immune responses can serve as potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been shown to be a potent inducer of type-2 inflammatory response mainly through its effects on T1ST2 receptor expressing immune cells. However, the mechanisms of its secretion and possible nuclear function in the IL-33 producing cells remain to be elucidated. My work focuses on the molecular mechanisms of IL-33 action in a context of an inflammatory response.
Publications
Barlow JL, Peel S, Fox J, Panova V, Hardman CS, Camelo A, Bucks C, Wu X, Kane CM, Neill DR, Flynn RJ, Sayers I, Hall IP, McKenzie AN. IL-33 is more potent than IL-25 in provoking IL-13-producing nuocytes (type 2 innate lymphoid cells) and airway contraction. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Oct;132(4):933-41.
Hardman CS, Panova V, McKenzie AN. IL-33 citrine reporter mice reveal the temporal and spatial expression of IL-33 during allergic lung inflammation. Eur J Immunol. 2013 Feb;43(2):488-98.
Wong, S.H., Walker, J.A., Jolin, H.E., Drynan, L.F., Hams, E., Camelo, A., Barlow, J.L., Neill, D.R., Panova, V., Koch, U., Radtke, F., Hardman, C.S., Hwang, Y.Y., Fallon, P.G. and McKenzie, A.N.J. . The transcription factor RORa is critical for nuocyte development. Nat. Immunol. 2012 13:229–236.
