Centre for Inflammatory Diseases

Mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment

Group leader: Dr Michael Hickey

The hypotheses which drive the work in our laboratory are that leukocyte recruitment is of central importance in inflammatory diseases, and the mechanisms whereby leukocytes enter sites of inflammation are highly complex and variable depending on the disease process and tissue involved. 

The consequences of this research are that developing an understanding of the regulation of inflammation, and particularly leukocyte recruitment specific to each disease, is a requirement for the development of the next generation of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics. 

A major focus of this group is the examination of the mechanisms regulating leukocyte trafficking in inflammatory disease, focusing on the contributions of key inflammatory molecules, such as adhesion molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and signalling molecules, and tissue specificity of these responses. 

Current work focuses on examination of responses mediated by immune complexes, specific cytokines such as macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF), and tissue-specific responses in the brain and kidney.  Much of this work is performed using intravital microscopy, in which the microcirculation in inflamed organs is examined while normal blood flow is maintained.  This provides an unparalleled ability to assess the functional role of inflammatory mediators in controlling leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and microvascular permeability.