PRIMARY FACULTY

Philip Grimley, M.D.
Professor
Pathology
 
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda MD 20814
Office: 301-295-3458
Fax: 301-295-1996
pgrimley@usuhs.mil

STAT proteins, a family of signal transducers and activators of transcription, are essential elements in the regulation of cell proliferation by cytokines and growth factors. STAT1 in particular has been linked both to the antiproliferative action of interferons and to the caspase enzyme pathway central to degradation of DNA in apoptosis. It plays a key role in arresting proliferating cells at G1, by modulating the expression of pRb and p21. We have found that a prolonged Stat1 signal with transcriptional activation of immediate early genes is essential to the growth inhibition of malignant lymphoma cells by interferon. On the other hand, removal of growth factors leads to apoptosis.
 
MAP kinase activities may be critical determinants of these different outcomes. Current work is attempting to detect critical points in the interaction of STAT and MAP kinase signal pathways. One focus is upon the interplay of the Erk and JNK MAP kinases which may control the switch from proliferative status to reversible growth inhibition or irreversible DNA fragmentation.

Selected Publications

Resources