Shigeko Yamashiro, PhD, Rutgers University
Research in the Yamashiro laboratory is aimed at determining what roles fascin1 plays in biology of antigen-presenting dendritic cells. When dendritic cells encounter non-self antigens like pathogens, they undergo terminal differentiation (called maturation), changing their functions from antigen sampling to antigen presentation. The expression of fascin1, an actin bundling protein, is greatly induced during this process, suggesting a key role of fascin1 in dendritic cell maturation. Dr. Shigeko Yamashiro has found that fascin1 is critical for chemotactic migration of dendritic cells into draining lymph nodes. This motility is inherently critical for dendritic cells to present antigen information to naive T-cells. Thus, manipulation of fascin1 expression could be utilized to modulate immune responses.
Part of The Investigator's Annexe program.
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References
- Yamakita Y, Matsumura F, Yamashiro S. Fascin1 is dispensable for mouse development but is favorable for neonatal survival. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 2009 Aug; 66(8):524-34.
- Yamakita Y, Matsumura F, Lipscomb MW, Chou PC, Werlen G, Burkhardt JK, Yamashiro S. Fascin1 promotes cell migration of Mature Dendritic Cells. J Immunol. 2011 Mar 1;186(5):2850-9. Epub 2011 Jan 24.
- Yamashiro-Matsumura S, Matsumura F. Intracellular localization of the 55-kD actin-bundling protein in cultured cells- spatial relationships with actin, alpha-actinin, tropomyosin, and fimbrin. J Cell Biol. 1986 Aug; 103(2):631-40.
- Yamashiro-Matsumura S, Matsumura F. Purification and characterization of an F-actin-bundling 55-kilodalton protein from HeLa cells. J Biol Chem. 1985 Apr 25;260(8):5087-97.
