Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Rheumatology/Arthritis
University of California at San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Ajay Nirula received his MD from the University of California in Los Angeles and his PhD from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. His previous research has involved the transcriptional regulation of HIV and interleukin-2 expression.
Project title: Regulation of T cell Signaling Pathways by CD28 and PDK-1
Dr Nirula is researching the role of the CD28 molecule in T cell function. He is seeking to identify other molecules that normally cooperate with CD28 and that play a role in T helper cell differentiation. Blocking CD28 function in abnormally functioning T cells may be a way to help combat autoimmune disease.
Selected publications
Andres PG, Howland KC, Nirula A, et al. Distinct regions in the CD28 cytoplasmic domain are required for T helper type 2 differentiation. Nat Immunol 2004;5:435-42.
Nirula A, Ho M, Weiss A. PDK1 and PKA coordinate a signaling pathway regulating IL-4 expression. Submitted, J Experimental Med.
