The Sant’Angelo lab works on transcription factors that define T cell effector functions. In particular, the lab has focused on the genes that induce a subset of T cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, to take on “innate-like” characteristics. These studies led to the discovery of the transcription factor, PLZF (promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger), which has proved to be the master regulator for NKT cell effector functions. The 49 members of the PLZF-related family are proving to be key factors that define and maintain the functional identity of lymphocytes. It is now clear that understanding this gene family will have a profound impact on our understanding of the overall complexity of the immune response.
- Title
- Professor, Division Chief, Developmental Biology, The Child Health Institute of New Jersey
- Area of Study/Expertise
- Transcriptional control of T cell effector functions; Control of intestinal homeostasis by T cells; Regulation of immune responses to cancer by T cell subsets
- santandb@rutgers.edu