M.D. – Yale University School of Medicine
Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
CRB I 4M45
401 N. Broadway
Baltimore, MD. 21231
Phone: (443) 287-2998
E-mail: [email protected]
Research:
Keywords: immunology, metabolism, cancer, t cells, differentiation
Summary of Research Program
In addition to canonical activation and cytokine signaling, immune cell phenotype and function are exquisitely tuned to nutrient and metabolic conditions. Our previous work revealed that glutamine antagonism could markedly condition the differentiation of effector CD8 T cells, enhancing long-lived, memory-like phenotypes, dramatically augmenting anti-tumor responses in mouse models (Leone, et al., Science, 2019). Building on these observations, our lab is interested in elucidating cellular mechanisms of adaptive immune response to metabolic perturbations. Our approach includes assessment of transcription factor modulation, metabolic enzyme moonlighting, metabolically responsive posttranslational modifications (e.g., methylation, acetylation), spliceosomal modulation, cellular stress response, as well as bioactive lipid signaling and cancer/immune cell co-metabolism. This work requires integration of a broad range of techniques including high-dimensional flow cytometry, mass spectrometry (e.g., metabolomics, stable isotope tracing), metabolic flux analyses, proteomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, microscopy and metabolic imaging agents. Specific areas of interest include ACSS2 mediated epigenetic modulation, metabolic modulation of FOXO1, and the role of pyruvate and glutamate metabolism in cellular redox homeostasis. We employ an extensive range of immunologic models in mice, in vitro studies, as well as patient samples. Our goal is to elucidate fundamental cellular processes activated in response to metabolic events that have broad implications for development of immune-based therapeutics.
Publications and Interests: https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/persons/robert-leone
Miller Research Building
Suite 631
733 North Broadway
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Office: (410) 955-2709
Email: [email protected]