Preliminary data from our lab shows that vascular endothelial cells (vECs) mount remarkably potent innate responses to cell-free DNA, which is well in accordance with their role as sentinels of the blood. However, little is known about how the contribution of innate endothelial responses to the inflammatory landscape of the tumor microenvironment. We are using primary endothelial-tumor cell co-culture, Next Generation RNA-sequencing profiling, RNAi/CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion, animal models of cancer and human tumor bio-samples to explore the role of vECs as bona fide effectors of the innate response to cancer.
Targeting Tumor Endothelium for Cancer Surveillance and Immunotherapy
About La Jolla Institute
The La Jolla Institute for Immunology is dedicated to understanding the intricacies and power of the immune system so that we may apply that knowledge to promote human health and prevent a wide range of diseases. Since its founding in 1988 as an independent, nonprofit research organization, the Institute has made numerous advances leading toward its goal: life without disease. Visit lji.org for more information.
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