Laurence Turka, M.D.
Harold and Ellen Danser Professor of Surgery, Emeritus Harvard Medical School |
Physician Investigator (Cl) Center for Transplantation Sciences, Mass General Research Institute |
Investigator, Full Professor (W) Center for Transplantation Sciences, Mass General Research Institute |
Consultant Surgery-Transplant Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital |
MD Yale University School of Medicine 1982 |
Research Interests
Research Narrative
Our second program researches the role of the PI3 kinase (PI3K) pathway in regulatory T cells. The tumor suppressor gene, Pten, a lipid phosphatase, is the primary negative regulator of PI3K in T cells. Using mice with Pten deficiency targeted to Tregs, as well as chemical inhibitors of PI3K, we are examining the role of PI3K in regulatory T cell homeostasis. Coupled with this project are studies of T cell metabolism as modulated by PI3K, and the degree to which glycolysis versus oxidative metabolism can dictate T cell fate and function.
Our third major program is the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the coupled adaptor protein MyD88 in T cells. TLRs are expressed on activated T cells and provide survival and co-stimulatory signals that may regulate cellular energy utilization pathways and thus fate determination. These observations are currently being explored in vivo models of immune responses such as infection and transplantation using T cell specific MyD88-deficient animals.
Research lab website
Publications
lturka@partners.org |
6177247740 |
Center for Transplantation Sciences CNY-Building #149 149 13th Street Charlestown, MA 02129 |