Anti-Allergic Therapeutics
Research
Allergies and allergic diseases such as asthma are a huge health problem in Australia and the rest-of-the-world. The antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and its high-affinity receptor FceRI are known to be key components of the allergic process as they are able to trigger activation of potent pro-inflammatory cells called mast cells and basophils. These cells release mediators such as histamine and a variety of cytokines and lipid-derived products. The laboratory aims to develop a better understanding of how FceRI is regulated and how it produces mast cell and basophil activation. It is hoped that this knowledge will lead to the development of new and improved anti-allergic agents.
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Key References
*Mackay GA, Hulett MD, Cook JPD, Trist HM, Henry AJ, Sutton BJ, Hogarth PM and Gould HJ. (2002). Mutagenesis within human FceRIa differentially alters human and murine IgE binding. TheJournal of Immunology, 168, 1787-1795.
*Rigby AJ, Epa VC, Mackay GA, Hulett MD, Sutton BJ, Gould HJ and Hogarth PM. (2000). Domain one of the high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI, regulates binding to IgE through its interface with domain two. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275, 9664-9672.
*Hernandez-Hansen V, Mackay GA, Lowell CA, Wilson BS and Oliver JM. (2004). The Src kinase Lyn is a negative regulator of mast cell proliferation. The Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 75, 143-151.
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