Isabelle Le Poole, PhD
Professor, Dermatology and Microbiology-Immunology
Research Program
Cancer-Focused Research
Research in the Le Poole lab is focused on immunotherapy the etiology and treatment of vitiligo, melanoma and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) as well as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Specifically, the objective is to design immunotherapeutics to treat these conditions. This is made possible by the interesting observation that each of these conditions share some common target molecules suitable for treatment by vaccines. In the autoimmune condition vitiligo, the goal is to reduce immune response that affect the livelihood of melanocytes, responsible for generating pigment in the skin. In turn, the immune response that develops in vitiligo patients provides a directive for how to target tumors. Likewise, the understanding that heat shock proteins are overexpressed in tumors in response to hypoxic stress has provided guidelines for a different approach towards autoimmune disease. Currently ongoing projects in the lab with translational implications include the analysis and cloning of T cell receptors projects in the lab with translational implications include the analysis and cloning of T cell receptors responsible for progressive depigmentation; studies of phenolic compounds that can selectively eliminate pigmented cells; differential expression of ganglioside D3 and immunotherapeutics to target this molecule in TSC; and the use of a modified heat shock protein (HSP70iQ435A) to treat vitiligo and other side effects of immunotherapy in melanoma.