Allergic asthma is the fastest growing childhood illness in the United States, affecting nearly 10% of American children. The Wiesner lab researches two aspects of allergic asthma: sensitization and persistence. The first project (sensitization) centers on the earliest response to allergen exposure, whereby lung epithelial cells respond to cell junction damage caused by inhalation of fungal protease allergens. We explore mechanotransduction and calcium amplification circuits within epithelial cells that lead to the priming of maladaptive immunity. The second project (persistence) focuses on allergen-specific, memory T cell residence in the lungs. Our lab developed a model system and reagents to study long term maintenance of CD4+ T cells in the lungs of allergen sensitized mice. This project aims to understand signals exchanged between allergenic T cells and the stromal tissues that supports memory T cell residence in the lungs.
- Title
- Assistant Professor
- Area of Study/Expertise
- Allergy and asthma
- dw667@njms.rutgers.edu