Metabolic signaling and cell fate decisions in T-cells

Decision-making processes during embryonic development and homeostasis in the adult have been viewed as a summation of cell-extrinsic and intrinsic networks, where the focus has traditionally been on signaling and transcriptional circuits. In adult organisms, the maintenance and restoration of homeostasis requires the active balancing of cell populations. Perturbations of homeostasis due to cell turnover, injury, infections or the deletion of damaged/defective cells are reset by the activation of tissue-resident, specialized stem/progenitor cells. This dynamic modulation of cellular repertoires in tissues requires distinct cell fate decisions, and is shaped by the local microenvironment as well as systemic cues.

Metabolic reprogramming in mature T-cells in the mammalian immune system, is intertwined with decisions of differentiation and homeostasis. We are interested in molecular underpinnings of metabolic plasticity, necessitated by the changing niches that cells function in. 

Recent Publications:

Marcel N, Perumalsamy L, Shukla S and Sarin A
The lysine deacetylase Sirtuin 1 modulates the localization and function of the Notch1 receptor in regulatory T cells.
Science signaling 2017, 10 (473) eaah4679.
http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sigtrans;10/473/eaah4679?...

Marcel N and Sarin A
Notch1 regulated autophagy controls survival and suppressor activity of activated T-regulatory cells.
eLife 2016;5:e14023

Sarin A and Marcel N
The NOTCH1-Autophagy Interaction:Regulating self-eating for survival.
Invited article commentary in “Autophagic Puncta” for Autophagy, 2016, Issue 2 (p446-447) doi: 10.1080/15548627.2016.1268303