835 S. Wolcott Ave., (M/C 901)
Chicago, IL 60612-7342
312-996-7620 phone
312-996-1414 fax

Donald A. Chambers, PhD
Professor

Bioregulatory interactions, mechanisms of cell proliferation and differentiation, molecular biology of disease

This laboratory has several major interests related to bioregulation and the molecular biology of disease. Two major research problems we are currently exploring are:

I. The molecular biological mechanisms through which the immune system and the nervous system interact in health and disease (neuro-immunology). The major hypothesis that guides this work is that the nervous system regulates the immune system through the release of signaling molecules; catecholamines and steroids, which act to modulate genes that regulate ligand-receptor interaction necessary to regulate immune function. Recently we have discovered a catecholamine, cyclic AMP dependent mRNA destabilization system which regulates the availability of mRNA for lymphocyte cell surface proteins.

Currently, we are investigating mechanisms that dictate this system. The biomedical importance of this research is that it promises to yield new understandings of the biological basis of stress and its relationship to disease as well as the modulation of anti-tumor immunity.

II. The molecular mechanisms of wound healing. In this research, we had previously found that proteases classically associated with blood clotting, plasminogen activators (PAs) and plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI), may function in the control of keratinocyte (skin cell) proliferation and differentiation. By utilizing biochemical (enzyme kinetic and substrate studies) and molecular biological (use of transgenic knockout mice and anti-sense RNA) techniques, we are learning how these PAs and PAIs relate to the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, developmental biology and molecular medicine. In addition to gaining new insights into the nature of tissue renewal, this research also relates to cardiovascular disease, molecular hematology and tumor biology.

Other projects being carried out in the laboratory include:

The signal transduction mechanisms through which biologic response modifiers including tumor promoters, cyclic nucleotides and neurotransmitters affect lymphocytes and keratinocytes.

The function and regulation of Thy 1 protein and other cell surface recognition proteins in lymphocytes and keratinocytes. The role of cyclic nucleotides in host-microbe interactions.

The use of the enzyme aspartate amino transferase to diagnose active destructive inflammatory disease (e.g., chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases).

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