We are interested in signal transduction pathways that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, and how dysregulated signaling can lead to pathological outcomes, such as inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Currently, we focus on the regulation of MAP kinase pathways by MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs), the major negative regulators of MAP kinases, in immune responses. MAP kinase signaling pathways are evolutionary conserved immune regulators, playing critical roles in various cellular programs including cell activation, proliferation, differentiation, effector function, and apoptosis. We and others have shown that by controlling MAP kinase activation, members of MKP protein family, also known as dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP) protein family, play essential roles in immune responses.

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