Research efforts in my laboratory are focused on two major fronts centered around the neuropeptide receptor, vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide receptor – 1 (VPAC1). First, we are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling the expression of VPAC1, a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), in mammalian cells with an emphasis on the immune system. Recent studies in my laboratory have demonstrated that Src and JNK kinases, downstream of the T cell receptor (TCR), regulate the expression levels of VPAC1 at the mRNA and protein levels in murine CD4 T cells. The TCR is a unique receptor (antenna for cells) that can recognize foreign molecules expressed by invading organisms (example: bacteria and viruses) to alert the immune system to clear an infection
