Pandey Lab

Current Projects

The laboratory has made several discoveries pertaining to the identification of mechanisms that cause immune inflammation in Gaucher disease. These include the identification of glucosylceramide (GC) loaded DCs and CD4⁺T cells, which upon stimulation showed increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, C-C, and C-X-C chemokines. These data suggested that DCs and CD4⁺T cells interaction drive inflammatory responses that lead to Gaucher disease manifestation. We now seek to determine if other APCs such as Mɸs, PMNs, and B cells also interact with certain T cells to trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. The lab is extensively involved in defining the signaling cascades that trigger GC induced immune inflammation in Gaucher disease.

Another focus in the Pandey lab is to determine the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in facilitating immune cell attack to the brain in Gaucher type-II and -III, and, Parkinson diseases. Using mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, Dr. Pandey’s lab is currently characterizing residential and CNS-infiltrating immune cells and their effector function for persuading neuronal loss and behavioral deficits.