The Feske lab investigates how ion channels regulate immune responses in humans and mice. Channels and transporters facilitate the movement of charged ions across lipid membranes in all cells of the body. They are well recognized to control the function of excitable tissues such as brain and heart, but their function in immune cells is much less understood. It has long been known that stimulation of immune cells via antigen receptors results in Ca²⁺ influx from the extracellular space, and that the resulting Ca²⁺ signals are required for leukocyte function. Immunoreceptor-induced Ca²⁺ influx is mainly mediated by Ca²⁺ release-activated Ca²⁺ (CRAC) channels that are formed by ORAI and STIM family proteins. CRAC channels and their role in immunity are a major research focus of the Feske lab.

Besides Ca²⁺, other ions (including Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-) and the channels that conduct them have been shown to regulate immune responses. There are still many gaps in our mechanistic understanding of how ion channels regulate immune function. For instance, how do ions other than Ca²⁺ signal and control immune cell function? Which ion channels function in immune cells and how do they differ between the various types of lymphoid and myeloid immune cells? How do ion channels control complex immune responses to infection, tumors or autoimmunity? Can ion channels in immune cells be targeted with to treat autoimmune disease, allergies or cancer? We are trying to answer these questions by studying ion channels in humans and mice for their mechanistic and physiological functions in immunity.