Researchers in the Functional Genomics Laboratory at the Arizona Respiratory Center are pursuing complex studies that combine basic functional work with epidemiologic studies, genetic studies, and clinical analysis on a large scale. The ultimate goal is to understand how the development of allergy and asthma relates to the underlying genes, which eventually will help customize the treatment to the underlying disease.
The aim of researchers at the Functional Genomics Lab is to provide a mechanistic explanation for the impact that naturally occurring genetic variation has on the function and regulation of genes that are critical for the pathogenesis of IgE-mediated diseases, first and foremost allergy and asthma. To that end, they're pursuing a range of studies, including these:
- Human IL-13 Gene Regulation and Impact of Polymorphisms. The major goal of this proposed study is the functional analysis of the impact that complex patterns of genetic variation in IL-13 (a critical gene in the pathogenesis of allergy and asthma) have on gene expression and function.
- Molecular Control of IgE and IgG4 expression. The main theme of this proposed study is the analysis and comparison of molecular mechanisms that control the expression of allergen-specific IgE and IgG4 in human B lymphocytes, and how they relate to the development of allergy and asthma. This project is part of a SCOR on the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Asthma.
- Functional Genomics of CD14. This work involves functional analysis of the impact of complex patterns of genetic polymorphisms in CD14 (a key gene in innate immunity) on the expression of the gene and its role in modulating IgE-mediated responses. Part of this work was recently reported in J. Immunol. 167: 5838 (2001). This is the first time that a common polymorphism in a gene crucial for innate immunity and allergy has been analyzed functionally in detail
The researchers of the Functional Genomics Laboratory believe that, altogether, these studies will help to establish a new paradigm that correlates patient phenotypes, genetic analysis, and functional studies to understand the cause of disease and predict responsiveness to specific treatments.
Primary focus: Genetics |
