|
|
| Name |
Leonard, Warren J. |
| Location
|
No Affiliation |
| Primary Field
|
Immunology and Inflammation |
| Secondary Field
|
Medical Genetics, Hematology and Oncology |
 Election Citation
|
|
Leonard is a world-leader in cytokine-biology and immunodeficiency. He cloned the first type-I cytokine receptor (IL-2RA), discovered IL-2RB, demonstrated IL-2RG is a shared receptor mutated in human X-linked severe-combined immunodeficiency (XSCID), discovered JAK3- and IL7R-deficient SCID, cloned IL-21R, and elucidated biology of (gamma chain)-family cytokines, leading to novel diagnostics and therapeutics. |
|
Research Interests
|
|
Warren J. Leonard's laboratory is interested in the regulation of the immune response, with particular focus on the actions of hormones of the immune system known as cytokines. Using primary cells from normal donors and patients as well as genetically altered transgenic, knockout, and knockin mice, the laboratory has elucidated the biological importance of yc family cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21) and a closely related cytokine, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) both in normal physiology and pathogenic states, including immunodeficiency and in response to viral infection or in models of allergic inflammation, autoimmune disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically, the lab has elucidated key actions of IL-2 in promoting T helper cell differentiation, the role of IL-21 in autoimmune disease and B cell differentiation, the role of TSLP in allergic inflammation, and made broad mechanistic insights into the actions of these cytokines, particularly via STAT proteins, including in their global regulation of gene expression based in part of the use of genomewide next generation sequencing. Work from the lab also contributed to the scientific foundation for the development of JAK inhibitors and the first study of partial agonists for a cytokine. |
|
|
|