Kevin Kane, PhD

Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
University of Alberta
Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
6-60A Heritage Medical Research Centre
T6G 2S2 Edmonton, AB
Canada

Ph : (780) 492-4997
Fx : (780) 492-9828
Em: kevin.kane@ualberta.ca

 

 

Positions:

• Professor, Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology
• AHFMR Scientist
• Member of the ImmuNet Council

 

Research:

The main research focus of my laboratory is to understand how CTL and NK cells recognize tumor cells or virally infected cells and destroy them. We also study how some tumor cells and virally infected cells manage to evade and/or resist the recognition and actions of killer cells. Killer cell recognition appears to involved many complex receptor-ligand interactions between the killer cell and tumor cell surfaces. We take many complementary approaches in our research to define new killer lymphocyte receptors and study the function of killer cell receptors generally, including molecular cloning techniques, construction of artificial membrane systems or "designer membranes" in which we incorporate cloned or affinity purified individual receptors or ligands, and cell function assays to determine the structural requirements and functional consequences of receptor engagement. Our primary focus has been on delineating the function of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, the central players in CTL and NK cell regulation. Our goal is to develop sufficient understanding of killer lymphocyte regulation to enhance mobilization of effective innate immunity and rationally design vaccines to stimulate adaptive T cell immunity to counter viral infections and cancer. In addition, we are taking several molecular approaches to study influences of bacterial invasion on host cell antigen processing and presentation and its potential functional involvement in bacterially-induced arthritis conditions.

 

T-cell engulfing a polystyrene bead

 

People:

• Carla Craveiro (Graduate Student)
• Donger Gong (Technologist)
• Deanna Hockley (Graduate Student)
• Wayne Juang (Graduate Student)
• Elsa Marquez (Graduate Student)

 

Publications:

Click here for most recent publications

 

Selected Publications:

 

1. Lavender, K.J. and Kane, K.P. Determining ligand specificity of Ly49 receptors. Methods Mol Biol. 2010;612:299-311

2. Varghese, J.C. and Kane, K.P. TCR complex-activated CD8 adhesion function by human T cells. J Immunol. 2008 Nov 1;181(9):6002-9

3. Kokaji, A.I., Hockley, D.L. and Kane, K.P. IL-15 transpresentation augments CD8+ T cell activation and is required for optimal recall responses by central memory CD8+ cells. J Immunol. 2008 Apr 1;180(7):4391-401.

4. Lavender, K.J., Chau, H.H. and Kane, K.P. Distinctive interactions at multiple site 2 subsites by allele-specific rat and mouse Ly49 determine functional binding and class I MHC specificity. J Immunol. 2007 Nov 15;179(10):6856-66

5. Rong, J., Bleackley, R.C. and Kane, K.P. Direct detection of cytolytic T lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity on antigen-transfected cell microarray. J Immunol Methods. 2007 Sep30;326(1-2):1-9 Epub 2007 Jul 16

6. Osman, M.S., Burshtyn, D.N. and Kane, K.P. Activating L49 receptors regulate LFA-1-mediated adhesion by NK cells. J Immunol. 2007 Feb1;178(3):1261-7