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Betsy Mellins

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Associate Professor Pediatrics -- Immunology and Transplantation Biology Stanford University Stanford, CA

Dr. Mellins' lab focuses on the study of antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. They have been particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms and intracellular steps involved in the generation of complexes between MHC class II molecules and peptides. Recent work on this area has concerned the roles of invariant chain and HLA-DM, two molecules which regulate peptide-loading of class II molecules. In addition, the lab is investigating the molecular basis of HLA-DR4 association with rheumatoid arthritis. Ongoing studies deal with:

1. Analysis of the biosynthesis, structure, and structure/function relationships of the HLA-DM molecule
2. Characterization of the peptide-loading compartment(s) in human B-lymphoblastoid cells
3. Analyses of class II biosynthesis in professional and non-professional antigen presenting cells
4. Regulation of peptide loading of RA-associated DR alleles