Focus
Cellular and molecular basis of hematopoietic stem cell, macrophage and macrophage-like metaphocyte development; the roles of microglia and metaphocytes in neuronal network and mucosal immunity.
Details
Hematopoiesis or blood cell formation is a sophisticated biological process which occurs in discrete anatomical locations during development and culminates in the adult with the replenishable production of dozens of functionally divergent blood cells. Dysregulation of this process is repeatedly seen in many kinds of human diseases including cancers. Our laboratory is thus keen to understand the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of the cellular components of the blood system and how their dysregulations incur diseases. Toward this end, we are utilizing zebrafish, a tiny tropical fish whose blood system shares many similarities to humans. A combination of photo-inducible lineage tracing, time-lapse imaging and devising genetic strategies will be employed to investigate the origin, migration and colonization, fate determination and function of hematopoietic stem cells, microglia and macrophage-like metaphocytes in the intact developing and adult zebrafish with highest possible cellular resolution. The ultimately goal is to uncover novel cellular and molecular principles that organize the formation, maintenance and function of these cells under physiological and pathological states.
Time Lapse Imaging of
Microglia Brain Colonization
Time-Lapse Imaging of
Langerhans Cells
Time-Lapse Imaging
of HSC BuddingCells
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