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Dr. Kincade:

Dr. Kincade 101
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Dr. Kincade's CV in brief

Publications

Immunobiology and Cancer Research Program

Paul W. Kincade, Ph.D. Member and Program Chair, Immunobiology and Cancer Research   Program William H. and Rita Bell Chair in Biomedical Research Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Oklahoma   Health Sciences Center

Research Interests
An understanding of leukemias, lymphomas, immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases requires fundamental information about immune system development. In addition, hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) represent an excellent model for studying stem cell properties, plasticity and utility for tissue regeneration. Our laboratory explores developmental relationships between HSC and progenitors of B, T, NK and plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

High-speed cell sorting and RAG-1/GFP knock-in mice are being exploited to identify the most primitive of lymphoid progenitors in fetal and adult tissues. We can identify even earlier lymphopoietic cells in E8.5 embryos and direct them to B or T lineage fates by differential ligation of Notch family receptors. Additionally, we have charted and extensively characterized the first waves of B and T lymphocyte formation. Fetal and adult lymphoid progenitors are quite different in many respects, and we are trying to determine if adult progenitors can reacquire fetal characteristics.

Adult bone marrow contains plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), a population that has attracted considerable interest because of their exceptional ability to produce type I interferon. We have recently studied their turnover, determined their origins and found that there are actually two, functionally distinct subsets of pDC. While both diverge from HSC at a very early stage and are developmentally unrelated to T lymphocytes, one shares a number of properties with B cells. Since pDC are thought to participate in regulation of immune responses and autoimmune disease, it will now be important to attribute these functions to one of the subsets.

Blood cell formation has traditionally been described in terms of a series of binary fate decisions. Recent findings are not compatible with that view, and a new model was constructed to describe lympho-hematopoiesis. It appears that HSC progressively and gradually lose differentiation options. Their progeny have more plasticity than previously thought and can be reprogrammed to different fates. In fact, we now believe this may happen during life-threatening infections.

Joined OMRF Scientific Staff in 1982.

Mailing Address
Immunobiology and Cancer Research Program, MS 23
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
825 N.E. 13th Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

Contact Information
Phone: (405) 271-7905
Fax: (405) 271-8568
E-mail: Paul-Kincade@omrf.org