Training:
• B.Sc. (Hons), 1986. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
• Ph.D. 1994. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
• Postdoc., 1994-8, St Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Memphs TN.
• Senior Fellow, 1998-2001, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN.
Area of research:
The production of antibody-producing B lymphocytes, followed by their deletion, is essential to normal humoral immune responses. Our laboratory focuses on mechanisms regulating these processes and how aberrations can lead to cancer.
Description and summary of research focus of the laboratory:
BAFF is a cytokine which is involved in the regulation of B lymphocyte maturation and antibody production. As such, BAFF plays an important role in the etiology of certain diseases including systemic lupus erythrematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Three receptors for BAFF have been characterized, these are BAFF-R, TACI and BCMA. Our laboratory primarily focuses on the biological role of TACI in immune function and cancer. Our studies with TACI knockout mice have demonstrated that these mice display significantly increased numbers of B cells and splenomegaly. This indicates that TACI is likely a negative regulator of B cell homeostasis and may function as a checkpoint to delete aberrant cells. Current studies in the lab employ both animal and in vitro models to study the role of TACI in the regulation of cellular proliferation or apoptosis.
Publications
von Bulow, G.U. and R.J. Bram, NF-AT activation induced by a CAML-interacting member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Science, 1997. 278 (5335): p. 138-41.
von Bulow, G.U., et al., Molecular cloning and functional characterization of murine transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) with chromosomal localization in human and mouse. Mamm Genome, 2000. 11 (8): p. 628-32.
von Bulow, G.U., J.M. van Deursen, and R.J. Bram, Regulation of the T-independent humoral response by TACI. Immunity, 2001. 14 (5): p. 573-82.
Search Pub Med
Return to Homepage |
Graduate Students |
