Academic Title
Vice Chair for Research, Professor, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Bio
B and T Cell Development The development of B and T lymphocytes occurs in the bone marrow and thymus, respectively, in association with a supporting framework of stromal cells. One aim of our work is to characterize immature lymphoid progeny derived from pluripotential hematopoietic stem cells. A current focus of the laboratory is on the characterization of a B/macrophage progenitor that has recently been identified in adult bone marrow. The origin of these cells and the contribution of their progeny to the adult immune system is being assessed. Another major aim of the laboratory is to define the basis for thymic involution during aging and to develop protocols for rejuvenation of that organ. Multiple in vitro and in vivo systems have been developed to facilitate these studies. Students who enter the laboratory receive state of the art training in such techniques as cell culture, flow cytometry, and bone marrow transplantation. This background provides then the skills necessary to address issues in Hematopoiesis and Developmental Immunology.
Publications
Dorshkind, K., Montecino-Rodriguez, E., and Signer, R.A.J. The ageing immune system: is it ever too old to become young again?. Nature Reviews Immunol. 2009; 9: 57-62.
Signer, R.A.J., Montecino-Rodriguez, E., Witte, O.N., and Dorshkind, K. Aging and cancer resistance in lymphoid progenitors are linked processes conferred by p16Ink4a and Arf. Genes & Development 2008; 22: 3115-3220.
Signer, R.A.J., Montecino-Rodriguez, E., Witte, O.N., McLaughlin, J, Dorshkind, K. Age-related defects in B lymphopoiesis underlie the myeloid dominance of adult leukemia. Blood 2007; 110: 1831-1839.
Monroe, J.G., Dorshkind, K. Fate decisions regulating bone marrow and peripheral B lymphoid development. Adv. Immunol. 2007; 95: 1-50.
Dorshkind, K. Montecino-Rodriguez, E. Fetal B-cell lymphopoiesis and the emergence of B-1-cell potential. Nature Rev. Immunol. 2007; 7: 213-219.
Hardy, R.R., Kincade, P.W., Dorshkind, K. The protean nature of B lineage cells. Immunity 2007; 26: 703-714.
Montecino-Rodriguez, E., Dorshkind, K. Evolving patterns of lymphopoiesis from embryogenesis through senescence. Immunity 2006; 24: 659-662.
Montecino-Rodriguez E, Leathers H, Dorshkind K Identification of a B-1 B cell-specified progenitor. Nature Immunology 2006; 7: 293-301.
Montecino-Rodriguez, E. Dorshkind, K. Stromal cell-dependent growth of B-1 B cell progenitors in the absence of direct contact. Nature Protocols 2006; 3: 1140-1144.
