Zongbing You, MD, PhD, School of Medicine
Interleukin-17 in Prostate Cancer. A major focus of our research program is to understand the role of inflammation in cancer initiation, promotion, and progression. Our target molecule in inflammation is interleukin-17 (IL-17). IL-17 is a key cytokine in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We are using in-vitro and in-vivo (transgenic and knockout mice) approaches to determine the role of IL-17 signaling in initiation, promotion, and progression of prostate cancer. The long-term goals of these studies are to identify the molecular mechanisms of IL-17 signaling pathways, to develop new methods targeting IL-17 signaling, and to apply these methods in prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
Doublecortin in Articular Joint Development. This research program is to understand the role of doublecortin (DCX) in development of articular joint. DCX was originally identified in migrating and differentiating neurons by other investigators. We were the first group to identify DCX in articular chondrocytes. Our current studies are to identify the molecular mechanisms of DCX’s function and to determine the role of DCX in differentiation of stem cells into articular chondrocytes. The long-term goals are to design new approaches in tissue engineering and regeneration of articular joint by manipulating DCX expression.
zyou@tulane.edu
