Due to their pluripotency, embryonic stem (ES) cells provide an unparalled source of cells that can be directed towards the generation of any cell type desired. This opens up opportunities for establishing new therapies for manipulating the immune system and for the treatment of degenerative diseases. Our laboratory is interested in generating tissues from embryonic stem cells that can be applied to treat diseases, and understanding the interaction of the immune system with these newly generated tissues. Recently, we established a protocol to generate hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) from ES cells transduced with HOXB4, a key transcription factor in hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal. My current research focuses on the role of NK cells in regulating the engraftment of ES cell-derived HPCs.

Tabayoyong WB, Salas JG, Bonde S, Zavazava N. HOXB4-transduced embryonic stem cell-derived Lin-c-kit+ and Lin-Sca-1+ hematopoietic progenitors express H60 and are targeted by NK cells. J Immunol. 2009 Nov 1;183(9):5449-57. Epub 2009 Oct 14. PubMed PMID: 19828634.

Tabayoyong WB, Zavazava N. Meet the inlaws: embryonic stem cell derivatives meet the immune system. Cell Res. 2009 Apr;19(4):397-8. PubMed PMID: 19339976.

Bonde S, Dowden AM, Chan KM, Tabayoyong WB, Zavazava N. HOXB4 but not BMP4 confers self-renewal properties to ES-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells. Transplantation. 2008 Dec 27;86(12):1803-9. PubMed PMID: 19104426; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2656378.

Tabayoyong WB, Zavazava N. Soluble HLA revisited. Leuk Res. 2007 Feb;31(2):121-5. Epub 2006 Jul 24. Review. PubMed PMID: 16860865; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1876709.