Summary
A Research Assistant position is currently available in the lab, full details here.
My research focuses on determining the functions and activation mechanisms of cytoplasmic Nod-like receptors (NLRs). NLRs modulate several anti-microbial functions including the activation of NF-kB and inflammasomes, a multimeric complex consisting of an NLR member together with adaptor ASC and pro-Caspase-1. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been extensively studied largely due to its’ roles in infectious and inflammatory disorders. However, the activation mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome remain ambiguous. We are interested in understanding how cellular metabolic pathways impact inflammasome activity. Our recent studies demonstrated cellular cholesterol transport as a key homeostatic mechanism regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome thereby highlighting a new perspective on the metabolic control of inflammasome. We are now interested in further characterizing the cholesterol transport pathways to decipher how they impact inflammasome activation and cellular metabolism, and whether these pathways might affect immune responses to pathogenic and ‘sterile’ stimuli. Our studies would lead to the identification of targets that calibrate immune responses to maintain cellular homeostasis.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Olona A, Leishman S, Anand P, 2022, The NLRP3 inflammasome: Regulation by metabolic signals, Immunology Today, Vol:43, ISSN:0167-5699, Pages:978-989
Anand P, 2020, Lipids, inflammasomes, metabolism and disease, Immunological Reviews, Vol:297, ISSN:0105-2896, Pages:108-122
Lukens JR, Anand PK, 2020, Adapt(ed) to repair — TH2 immune responses in the bladder promote recurrent infections, Nature Immunology, Vol:21, ISSN:1529-2908, Pages:597-599
Hamilton C, Anand PK, 2019, Right place, right time: Localisation and assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome, F1000research, Vol:8, ISSN:2046-1402
De la Roche M, Hamilton C, Mortensen R, et al., 2018, Trafficking of cholesterol to the ER is required for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, Journal of Cell Biology, Vol:217, ISSN:0021-9525
Hamilton C, Tan L, Miethke T, et al., 2017, Immunity to uropathogens: the emerging roles of inflammasomes, Nature Reviews Urology, Vol:14, ISSN:1759-4812, Pages:284-295
Lupfer C, Anand PK, 2016, Integrating inflammasome signaling in sexually transmitted infections, Trends in Immunology, Vol:37, ISSN:1471-4981, Pages:703-714
Lupfer CR, Anand PK, Liu Z, et al., 2014, Reactive Oxygen Species Regulate Caspase-11 Expression and Activation of the Non-canonical NLRP3 Inflammasome during Enteric Pathogen Infection, PLOS Pathogens, Vol:10, ISSN:1553-7366
Gurung P, Anand PK, Malireddi RKS, et al., 2014, FADD and caspase-8 mediate priming and activation of the canonical and noncanonical Nlrp3 inflammasomes, Journal of Immunology, Vol:192, ISSN:0022-1767, Pages:1835-1846
Lupfer C, Thomas PG, Anand PK, et al., 2013, Receptor interacting protein kinase 2-mediated mitophagy regulates inflammasome activation during virus infection, Nature Immunology, Vol:14, ISSN:1529-2908, Pages:480-+
Anand PK, Malireddi RKS, Lukens JR, et al., 2012, NLRP6 negatively regulates innate immunity and host defence against bacterial pathogens, Nature, Vol:488, ISSN:0028-0836, Pages:389-+
Anand PK, Tait SWG, Lamkanfi M, et al., 2011, TLR2 and RIP2 Pathways Mediate Autophagy of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> via Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase (ERK) Activation, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Vol:286, Pages:42981-42991
Kuehnel MP, Rybin V, Anand PK, et al., 2009, Lipids regulate P2X7-receptor-dependent actin assembly by phagosomes via ADP translocation and ATP synthesis in the phagosome lumen, Journal of Cell Science, Vol:122, ISSN:0021-9533, Pages:499-504