The Lencer Laboratory studies the cell and molecular biology of polarized epithelial cells that line mucosal surfaces. These projects relate to how barrier epithelial cells interact with the luminal and sub-epithelial microenvironment, and to the biology of microbial pathogenesis and mucosal host defense.
One project aims to elucidate how apical membrane glycosphingolipids of barrier epithelial cells sense enterotoxin or virus binding to induce rapid degradation of the PARD6B/aPKC polarity complex and down regulation of the apical endosome - thus providing a form of innate and cell-autonomous host defense, independently of pattern-recognition, by blocking pathogen entry.
A second project aims to elucidate how the IBD-risk gene C1ORF106/INAVA acts in human intestinal epithelia to manage environmentally-induced cell stress, inflammation, and the integrity of mucosal surfaces.
In a third area of current research, we focus on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensors IRE1a and IRE1b and how they detect ER dysfunction to accommodate cellular stress, enable proteostasis, and contribute to innate host defense at mucosal surfaces.
Lastly, in a fourth area of research we study how gut microbes affect hunger, satiety and food choice.
Research in the following areas have led to 15 patent awards
The FcRn research program led to the founding of a Biotech company that was acquired by Biogen Idec and two novel biologics now FDA approved: Alprolix and Eloctate for treatment of hemophilia A and B.