The cGAMP pathway is a DNA sensing system that can alert the immune system to the presence of pathogens and also appears to possess promising anticancer abilities. These properties would be beneficial in a cancer vaccine, so Dr. Li’s work aims to better characterize cGAMP to foster its therapeutic potential. He’s developed a way to quantify cGAMP and directly observe it in several disease models, including tuberculosis and autoimmune disorders. Here, he validated cGAMP’s helpful role in fighting off infections as well as how blocking it can help alleviate autoimmune responses. Furthermore, Dr. Li identified a switch on the protein that produces cGAMP, and is exploring how this modification can affect cGAMP activity. Overall, Dr. Li’s findings should provide a foundation for developing immunotherapies that target cGAMP and its associated molecules.
Projects and Grants
Roles of mammalian cyclic dinucleotide signaling in cancer therapies
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | All Cancers | 2015 | Zhijian J. Chen, Ph.D.
Let's spread the word about Immunotherapy! Click to share this page with your community.