The Neutrophil Signalling Group
The Neutrophil Signalling Group is a research group working within the School of Medicine, Cardiff University. The group is also part of a larger Interdisciplinary Research Grouping, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation (I3).
Neutrophils are white blood cells which hunt down and kill infecting microbes. They form the first line of defence against infection and are also involved in inflammatory diseases.
Our research is focused on the mechanisms which underlie neutrophil behaviour in both health and disease. The neutrophil represents an unusual cell type within the body, in which there is a degree of autonomy of cell-response decision-making. In some respects, the possible response outcomes are “primitive” cell behavioural responses, e.g. cell shape change, phagocytosis and chemotaxis, whereas in other respects there are more sophisticated outcomes, e.g. apoptosis, gene expression and oxidase assembly. Individual neutrophils must perform a program of activity in the correct sequence, location and timing (based on their repertoire of behaviours) to produce effective anti-bacterial protection. Yet, many of the same steps leads to pathological and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
The goal of our research is to understand the signalling and integration of these separate behaviours. While this is a worthy goal in itself, as it contributes to our fundamental knowledge of cellular processes; it underpins the larger aim of understanding and ultimately preventing the aberrant behaviour of these cells during inflammatory diseases.At present, the Group has focused on three aspects of neutrophil signalling (i) cytosolic free Ca2+ signals (ii) PIP2 generation and signalling and (ii) calpain translocation and activation. We have built up the necessary equipment for measurement, manipulation and imaging chemical changes in individual living neutrophils, and solved some of the difficult problems which arise when working with these cells.
Since its inception, the Group has been fortunate in receiving continuous funding from the Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Arthritis Research Campaign, Cystic Fibrosis Trust and British Heart Foundation as well as other national and local sources.