Department of Immunology at University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh	UPMC	Health Sciences @ Pitt	School of Medicine

	Department of Immunology

Academic Resources

Employment and Training Opportunities

Events

Flow Facility

E1040
Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower
Phone: 412-383-9737
Fax: 412-383-8098

Faculty

Binfeng Lu , Ph.D.
Associate Professor
E1047 BST (Office)
E1017 BST (Lab)
Pittsburgh, PA
Phone: 412.648.9339
Email: binfeng@pitt.edu
Fax: 412.383.8098
Faculty Research Interests

Research Interests

Our laboratory focuses on studying molecular and cellular mechanisms of T cell-mediated inflammation in autoimmune diseases and cancers. We investigate how the signal transduction affects adaptive immune responses during autoimmunity and cancer immunity. We are also interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms that determine the eventual fate of T cell responses. Preclinical models of autoimmunity and cancer immunity are commonly used to help provide answers to these questions. The following projects are currently being pursued.
1. The role of the Gadd45b and Gadd45g signaling pathway in autoimmune diseases.
2. The role of Gadd45b and Gadd45g in cancer immunity.
3. Th1 responses and cancer prognosis.
4. The role of autophagic cell death in adaptive immune responses.

Education

Postdoc - Yale University (1998-2003)
Ph.D. - Columbia University (1998)
B.S. - Tsinghua University, Beijing (1992)

Academic Affiliation

Associate Professor of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh
Member, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Selected Publications

Lu B, Finn OJ. T-cell death and cancer immune tolerance. Cell Death Differ 15(1):70-9. 2008.
Li C, Capan E, Zhao Y, Zhao J, Stolz D, Watkins SC, Jin S, Lu B. Autophagy is induced in CD4+ T cells and important for the growth factor-withdrawal cell death. J Immunol 177(8):5163-8. 2006.
Liu L, Tran E, Zhao Y, Huang Y, Flavell R, Lu B. Gadd45 beta and Gadd45 gamma are critical for regulating autoimmunity. J Exp Med 202(10):1341-7. 2005.
Chi H, Lu B, Takekawa M, Davis RJ, Flavell RA. GADD45beta/GADD45gamma and MEKK4 comprise a genetic pathway mediating STAT4-independent IFNgamma production in T cells. EMBO J 23(7):1576-86. 2004.
Lu B, Zagouras P, Fischer JE, Lu J, Li B, Flavell RA.Kinetic analysis of genomewide gene expression reveals molecule circuitries that control T cell activation and Th1/2 differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(9):3023-8. 2004.
Lu B, Ferrandino A, Flavell RA. GADD45b is important for enhancing and
sustaining both cognate and inflammatory signals in T cells. Nature Immunology. 2004 (in press).
Sun* H, Lu* B, Li R, Flavell RA, Taneja R. Defective T-cell activation and autoimmune disorder in Stra13-deficient mice. (* These authors contribute equally) Nature Immunology 2(11):1040-7. 2001.
Lu B, Yu H, Chow C, Li B, Zheng W, Davis RJ, Flavell RA. GADD45gamma Mediates the Activation of the p38 and JNK MAP Kinase Pathways and Cytokine Production in Effector T(H)1 Cells. Immunity 14(5):583-90. 2001.

PubMed Link

Grants

Title: Immune Regulation by Gadd45b and Gadd45g
Agency: NIH
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 2006-2010
Title: Immune Regulation by genes of the Gadd45 family
Agency: Cancer Research Institute
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 2004-2008
Title: Regulation of the MAP kinase pathway in the CD4+ T cells
Agency: NIH
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 2003-2008

Lab Personnel

Postdoctoral Associates
Ines Gonzalez-Garcia, Ph.D.
Lin Liu, Ph.D.
Yibei Zhu, Ph.D.

Research III
Christen Shiber

Visiting Scholar
Qianting Yang, MD

My Gallery