Research

My primary research interests concern molecular mechanisms of the regulation of differentiated function in hematopoietic cells. Current studies are focused on the role of C/EBP transcription factors in the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. We have found that C/EBP beta activity can be modulated by histone acetyltransferases and by dimerization to other C/EBP family members, such as C/EBP gamma. Our experiments employ transient transfection and retroviral transduction to introduce genes encoding transcription factor, co-activators, and signaling elements into hematopoietic cell lines. Experimentally manipulated cells are analyzed by a variety of molecular, immunological, and cell culture techniques. Recently, as a participant in the MSU Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center, we have been examining the role of progesterone in regulating the expression of C/EBP beta and proinflammatory genes in mammary epithelial cells, as well as the role of C/EBP beta in regulating the expression of the progesterone receptor in mammary gland development.