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Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

Camie Chan, Ph.D.

Camie Chan, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
(in Residence)
672 Shriners Hospital, Sacramento Campus
(916) 453-2237
e-mail


Recent/Current
Research Funding

National Institutes of Health

Shriners Hospital

University of California Cancer Research

Research Interests

Dendritic cells (DCs), the professional antigen-presenting cells, represent a distinct component of the innate immune system that acts as a liaison between innate and adaptive responses. Recently, we have identified a novel population of DCs, named interferon-producing killer DCs (IKDCs).

Briefly, IKDCs share some similarities with, but are distinct from conventional DCs, plasmacytoid DCs and NK cells. Interestingly, our findings demonstrated that activated IKDCs only transiently express NK activity. As IKDCs lose their cytotoxicity, DC-like Ag-presenting activity is gained. This process is associated with an upregulation of surface MHC class II (MHCII) and costimulatory molecules, which formally distinguish them from classical NK cells. 

IKDCs produce type I and II IFN and/or IL-12 upon activation. The dual killing and Ag presenting activities of IKDCs make them an important player in anti-viral and anti-tumor immunity and thus therapeutic target.

Given IKDCs importance, our lab is interested in further characterizing their roles in triggering immune responses and immune tolerance, in addition to their significance in disease settings including viral infections, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

In addition, one of my research directions is to characterize the pathologic effects of burn injury on DCs for developing novel immunotherapies to alleviate burn-related infections and complications.

Representative Publications

Chan CWY, Crafton E, Fan HN, Flook J, Brockstedt D, Dubensky TW, Lanier LW, Pardoll DM, Housseau F (2006).  Interferon producing killer-dendritic cells provide a link between innate and adaptive immunity. Nature Medicine. 12:207-13.

Chan CW, Housseau F (2007). A “kiss of death” by dendritic cells to neoplastic cells. Implications for tumor immunosurveillance. Cell Death and Differentiation. In press.

Teaching and Research Awards

  • 16th Annual Sheila Sherlock Liver Research Day Basic Science Presentation Award, University of Toronto (2001)
  • Trainee Basic Science Abstract Award, Canadian Society of Transplantation Annual Scientific Meeting (2002)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Scholarship, Keystone Symposia (2005)