Our research aims to understand the mechanisms via which cells sense and maintain the size of multicellular populations at their appropriate density. In particular, we investigate the role of the coronin pathway to achieve proper cell population size control.
All multicellular organisms require a mechanism to regulate the appropriate numbers of cells within their tissues and organs for optimal functioning. We basically ask the question: how do cells ‘tune’ their population sizes? Our long-standing interest in unravelling the function of coronin proteins has recently defined members of the coronin protein family as key controllers of cell population size.
Coronin proteins are expressed in all eukaryotes, with the exception of plants, having evolved at the time of unicellular-to-multicellular transition. In our laboratory, we are using multiple approaches to delineate coronin-mediated cell population size regulation, ranging from analysis of facultative multicellular amoeba, to ex vivo and in vivo analysis of the coronin pathway in mammals.
Coronin 1, T cell population size control and resistance towards auto- and alloimmunity while maintaining anti-microbial immunity
Over the years, we have gained important insights into the mechanism of cell population size control through the analysis of the role of the coronin 1 in immune cells, where coronin 1 is essential for the control of the peripheral T cell populations size in mice and men. T cells are key players in immune activation, and interestingly, while the absence of coronin 1 results in profound peripheral naive T cell depletion, anti-microbial immunity is maintained whereas coronin 1 depletion is associated with resistance towards autoimmune triggers as well as induction of transplantation tolerance. In ongoing efforts we are further defining the mechanisms underlying coronin 1-dependent auto- and alloimmune responses.
