Joshua A. Boyce, MD
Chief, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Hale Building for Transformative Medicine
60 Fenwood Road
Boston, MA 02115
This laboratory focuses on the mechanisms by which lipid mediators of inflammation control the innate arm of type 2 immunity associated with asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis and aspirin sensitivity. We use a combination of unbiased transcriptomic approaches with human tissue and transgenic animals to address the central questions. We have identified critical functions for each of the three known cysteinyl leukotriene (cysLT) receptors in controlling platelet and mast cell activation, as well as group 2 innate lymphoid cell expansion and activation by both direct and indirect circuits.
We have also demonstrated that perturbations in the control of these systems by genetic and epigenetic mechanisms profoundly affect the magnitude and severity of mucosal pathology, leading to the development of disease. The translational significance of our studies is greatly reinforced by our collaborations with our strong clinical programs.