Stefan Feske
New York University, NY·Microbiology & Immunology
Immune cells need ion channels and pumps, proteins that move charged atoms such as calcium, sodium and potassium across cell membranes, just as nerve and heart cells do. Yet only a handful of the hundreds of known channel genes have been studied in immune cells.
- Fields
Microbiology & Immunology
Physiology
Pharmacology
- Topics
ion channels
T cells
B cells
- Grants
- 4 known grants, through May 2031
What they work on
- Determine how calcium signals through CRAC channels activate the Ets family transcription factor Fli1, and how Fli1 controls the development of T follicular helper cells, the T cells that help B cells make antibodies.
- Test Fli1's role in antibody-mediated immune responses using mouse influenza infection models and protocols for studying human Tfh cell function.
- Investigate how CLNS1A, a putative channel protein, controls DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and identify binding partners besides the methyltransferase PRMT5.
- Determine the role of CLNS1A in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to infection and inflammation, using mice in which the gene is deleted.
- Define how ATP1B3, a subunit of the sodium-potassium pump, regulates pump function, signaling and metabolism in T cells, building on transcriptomic and metabolomic data.
- Test whether ATP1B3 is a suitable drug target by examining its control of T cell expansion and disease in a preclinical mouse model of multiple sclerosis.
- Determine how two ion channels identified in genetic screens control the development of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells, and their role in antibody responses to influenza infection.
More about the research
This is a gap in basic knowledge and a missed opportunity, because ion channels are excellent drug targets, and many heart and psychiatric drugs already block them. This research uses genetic screens and mouse models to find which ion-related proteins, and the gene regulators downstream of them, control T cells and B cells. These cells drive protective responses to infections such as influenza, as well as harmful ones in autoimmunity and allergy.
Why it matters
There are no FDA-approved drugs that target ion channels to treat autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. These projects could identify new drug targets, such as ATP1B3 or CLNS1A, for conditions like multiple sclerosis, asthma and autoimmunity. Understanding Tfh and plasma cell development could also guide strategies to improve antibody responses to vaccines, and possibly to limit harmful antibodies in autoimmune disease and in antibody-deficiency disorders.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Murali Prakriya
Northwestern University, IL·Neuroscience
Map the binding interface between the Orai1 channel and the calcium sensor STIM1. Use photocrosslinking with unnatural amino acids that can be locked in place by light.
Mohamed Trebak
University of Pittsburgh, PA·Physiology
Determine how native ORAI1–3 calcium channels and STIM1/STIM2 ER calcium sensors move, associate, dissociate and are internalized at PM–ER junctions.
Ramin Herati
New York University, NY·Microbiology & Immunology
Track circulating T follicular helper (cTfh) cells and B cells across repeated hepatitis B vaccine doses, profiling their traits and receptor repertoires to find which features best predict the final protective antibody level.
The school
New York University: 72 labs on PI Pages, $1.5B a year on research, 540 research doctorates a year.
Reach out
A start for your email. Fill in the brackets.