Our group studies the molecular switches that control inducible gene expression in the immune system. The response of an organism to environmental signals generally requires complex changes in gene expression. In man, the immune system is one of the major body systems that responds to external signals, specifically from invading pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or parasites, allergens and other unfavourable events. The cells of the immune system are exquisitely poised to alter gene expression patterns within minutes of detecting a signal and waves of gene expression changes then occur within the next 24-48hrs to ensure a correct immune response. Incorrect activation or repression of genes can lead to an adverse response, triggering autoimmunity or the failure to eliminate a pathogen. We focus on the transcription factors that drive inducible gene expression in the immune system as well as the role of the packaging of the genes into chromatin (the epigenome) in the nucleus. We employ single gene (especially cytokine genes) as well as genome-wide (microarray, ChIP-on-chip) approaches to understand inducible gene expression in immune cells.
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