UNDERSTANDING THE WHIM SYNDROME: NEW ROLES FOR CXCR4 IN LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION

The WHIM syndrome is a genetic disease caused by expression of an altered protein, the CXCR4 receptor. While some typical signs of the disease can be explained on the basis of known CXCR4 functions, the molecular mechanisms responsible for other important clinical symptoms are still unclear. New functions of the CXCR4 receptor have been recently identified in our laboratory. Thus, we plan to analyze new CXCR4 signaling features in WHIM cell patients. The aim is to define novel and specific therapeutic approaches to the disease.