Estadt is working to understand the cell death pathways that are activated in keratinocytes by type I interferons and ultraviolet (UV) light to gain a better understanding of why patients with lupus experience photosensitivity. She has found that priming keratinocytes with interferons prior to exposure to UV light promotes caspase-8-dependent apoptosis, suggesting that interferon-driven extrinsic apoptosis may contribute to photosensitive responses. This work will hopefully lead to new treatments for SLE patients whose disease is flared by the sun.
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Shannon Loftus, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan