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The overall theme of Dr. Silberstein's laboratory is to understand the mechanisms by which niche-specific signals in the bone marrow microenvironment influence hematopoiesis.
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Both the localization and migration between bone marrow niches of hematopoietic progenitor cells depend on cell-cell and cell matrix interactions, which result from the cooperation of cytokine receptors, chemokine receptors, and adhesion molecules. Using B lineage differentiating bone marrow cells as a model, the laboratory wishes to define the molecular signaling pathways of the CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine axis. Although the axis appears to play a major role in hematopoietic progenitor/homing engraftment in the bone marrow as well as retention in the bone marrow for normal hematopoietic development, the mechanisms by which these processes occur remains largely unknown.
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By better understanding the molecular signaling pathways of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, the laboratory hopes to devise strategies to improve stem/progenitor cell engraftment following transplant. Laboratory methods include both molecular and cellular approaches of human and murine cells and the use of gene targeted animal models.
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