Erdyni Tsitsikov's research examines the molecular basis of inflammatory responses, with an emphasis on tumor necrosis factor. TNF plays a major role in a wide array of biological processes, including the acute phase response of inflammation, cell growth and apoptosis ("natural" cell death), and lymphocyte activation. His research should lead to a better understanding of the development of local and systemic T cell immune responses and, as a result, to greater insights into inflammatory and autoimmune disease such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and type-1 diabetes.

His lab is exploring the role of TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 1 (TRAF1), an intracellular molecule which is involved in signal transduction by the two TNF receptors--TNFR1 (CD120a/p55) and TNFR2 (CD120b/p75. The group has developed an animal model, TRAF1-deficient mice, in which to investigate the physiologic role of TRAF1. These mice are viable and have the normal numbers and distribution of lymphocytes in the lymphoid organs. However, their T cells proliferate more aggressively than those of normal mice when stimulated with TNF or with monoclonal antibodies directed at CD3, suggesting that TRAF1 suppresses TNF signaling in T cells.

Tsitsikov and colleagues are also investigating TRAF1's role in activating B cells, which is critical to EBV-mediated B cell transformation and the generation of EBV-induced B cell cancers, including Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Hodgkin's disease, and AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.