My laboratory is investigating the role played by skin γδ T cells in wound repair. We are currently examining whether skin γδ T cell function is impaired in instances of dysfunctional wound healing. Skin γδ T cells are known to become activated by damaged keratinocytes to produce growth factors such as keratinocyte growth factors (KGF-1 and -2) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Production of these factors by skin gd T cells has been implicated in the proliferative phase of wound repair, the inflammatory phase of wound repair, and epidermal homeostasis. |