Chemokine and chemokine receptor regulation of T lymphocyte traffic to lymph nodes

白细胞从血液流向组织的运动是我们抵御感染和癌症的关键组成部分，也是我们患上过敏等有害疾病的关键组成部分。特别是，细胞向淋巴结的迁移是发展有效免疫反应的关键一步。令人惊讶的是，人们对这一重要的细胞贩运过程的控制知之甚少。在这项研究中，控制白细胞运动的信号正在被研究，特别是一种特殊的免疫激素家族，称为趋化因子。我们的初步研究表明，趋化因子确实是控制最重要的细胞类型-T细胞进入淋巴结的交通的因素。这项研究将研究特定趋化因子的活性如何控制特定T细胞组的流入，并随后确定发生在淋巴结内的整体免疫反应的特征。

The movement of white blood cells from the bloodstream into the tissues is a key component of how we defend ourselves against infection and cancer, and also develop unwanted illnesses such as allergy. In particular, the migration of cells into lymph nodes is a critical step in the development of an efficient immune response. Surprisongly little is known about the control of this important cell trafficking process. In this research, the signals that control the movement of white blood cells are being studied, notably a specialised family of immunological hormones, known as chemokines. Our initial studies suggest that chemokines are indeed the factors which control the traffic of the most important cell type - T cells, into lymph nodes. This research will examine how the activity of specific chemokines controls the influx of particular groups of T cells and subsequently determines the characteristics of the overall immune response taking place in the lymph node.