We are discovering new genes, proteins and cellular pathways that help us understand how inflammation is turned on and off in immune cells
Inflammation is an important defence against infection but it can also contribute to chronic diseases, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and to kidney, lung, vascular and bowel diseases, and importantly, to cancer.
Immune cells, including macrophages, release cytokines or messengers that can over-stimulate immune responses in acute infection, causing a ‘cytokine storm’ , or they can continuously active inflammation causing tissue damage in chronic disease.
Our goal is to identify molecules and pathways that can be targeted with new or existing drugs to modulate inflammation in many disease situations
As molecular cell biologists we are interested in the cellular pathways for cytokine secretion and for pathogen recognition and surveillance that contribute to inflammation.
Macropinocytosis is a ‘drinking and eating’ pathway for many cells. It is important for the pathogen-mediated activation of macrophages and it can be upregulated in cancer to sustain the survival of cancer cells.
Dissecting differential regulators for the control of macropinocytosis is of particular prevalence in our current research.
We partner with other groups in the IMB Centre for Inflammation and Disease Research and others around the world, for multidisciplinary research.
Group leader
Professor Jenny Stow
Group Leader, Protein trafficking and inflammation
+61 7 334 62110
j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au
UQ Experts Profile
Our projects make use of approaches including:
- Tagging, mutation and expression of genes and proteins for advanced live cell imaging, microscopy and 3D image analysis and visualization.
- Mapping protein-protein interactions and signalling networks with proteomic and biochemical approaches.
- Exploring drug effects and gene knockouts and gene expression in cells, organoids and animal models of disease.
Project 1. Macropinocytosis and phagocytosis are pathways for pathogen entry and cell activation in macrophages. We are defining roles for individual Rab GTPases as regulators of membrane changes, receptor signaling and recycling, endocytic uptake and degradation. Advanced imaging and modelling are also used to examine macropinosome and phagosome formation. This project aims to find molecules and membranes that can be targeted to fight infection and inflammation.
Project 2. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) respond to pathogens and tissue damage and activate macrophages to initiate immune and inflammatory responses. We study signalling and cytokine secretion. We have discovered roles for lipid kinases, GTPases, signaling adaptors and trafficking proteins in these pathways that can potentially be targeted for infection, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer’s, lung inflammation and other chronic diseases.
Project 3. Macropinocytosis in cancer cells. Mutations in some cancer cells increase macropinocytosis for nutrient uptake which allows aggressive cancers to survive and spread. We are identifying macropinosome regulators in cancer cells that could be new drug targets in cancer. We are examining the roles of macropinocytosis in cancer cell survival and metastasis in cell cultures, organoids and tumour models.
Project 4. Cilia and kidney disease. Epithelial cells and other cells have cilia, or cell antennae, to control tissue development, function and disease. Genetic mutations affecting cilia in, leading to a wide range of symptoms in inherited ciliopathies. We study Rab GTPases and other regulators to gain insights into cilia function and dysfunction in disease.
Traineeships, honours and PhD projects are offered in these areas.
Latest news
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Protein puts the brakes on harmful inflammation
12 September 2018
General enquiries
+61 7 3346 2222
imb@imb.uq.edu.au
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