The Nadeau Lab
Research Focus:
Over recent years, there has been an increase in allergic
disorders to epidemic proportions in children and adults. Many
studies have determined that the immune system in patients with
allergies (also called atopy), such as asthma, atopic dermatitis,
food allergies, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and other
atopic disorders, is overactive and skewed toward a certain
subtype of immune cell called the Th2 cell. So far, there is a lack of
understanding on how cells turn off this abnormal proliferation and
activation of the Th2 cell. The Nadeau laboratory has found that a
type of cell called the natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) can
decrease Th2 cell overactivation in allergies and this leads to
reversal or improvement of the allergic condition. By understanding
how Treg work, we hope to establish new diagnostic and
therapeutic approached to prevent and treat allergic conditions.
The Nadeau laboratory maintains a database and sample/tissue
bank of healthy controls and patients treated at LPCH/Stanford
Medical Center with allergic disorders. There are four main foci of
the laboratory 1) since Tregs may be responding to pollution
conditions, we are studying the effect of ambient air pollution on
Tregs 2) since most allergic conditions start in childhood, we are
examining the role of Th2 and Treg in different age groups with
and without atopy, 3) since the activity of Th2 and Treg is
determined by their interactions with other cell types, such as
epithelial cells and dendritic cells, we are studying their effects on
Th2/Treg interactions, and 4) since improvement of Treg function
is associated with improvement of allergic conditions, we are
designing new treatments (for example, sublingual immunotherapy,
small molecule chemokines) that enhance Treg function.
Over recent years, there has been an increase in allergic
disorders to epidemic proportions in children and adults. Many
studies have determined that the immune system in patients with
allergies (also called atopy), such as asthma, atopic dermatitis,
food allergies, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and other
atopic disorders, is overactive and skewed toward a certain
subtype of immune cell called the Th2 cell. So far, there is a lack of
understanding on how cells turn off this abnormal proliferation and
activation of the Th2 cell. The Nadeau laboratory has found that a
type of cell called the natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) can
decrease Th2 cell overactivation in allergies and this leads to
reversal or improvement of the allergic condition. By understanding
how Treg work, we hope to establish new diagnostic and
therapeutic approached to prevent and treat allergic conditions.
The Nadeau laboratory maintains a database and sample/tissue
bank of healthy controls and patients treated at LPCH/Stanford
Medical Center with allergic disorders. There are four main foci of
the laboratory 1) since Tregs may be responding to pollution
conditions, we are studying the effect of ambient air pollution on
Tregs 2) since most allergic conditions start in childhood, we are
examining the role of Th2 and Treg in different age groups with
and without atopy, 3) since the activity of Th2 and Treg is
determined by their interactions with other cell types, such as
epithelial cells and dendritic cells, we are studying their effects on
Th2/Treg interactions, and 4) since improvement of Treg function
is associated with improvement of allergic conditions, we are
designing new treatments (for example, sublingual immunotherapy,
small molecule chemokines) that enhance Treg function.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Welcome to the Nadeau Lab |
| Nadeau Lab 300 Pasture Drive Grant Bldg, Room S312 Stanford, CA 94309 650-498-6865 |