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Member Information
Jay Farrell, PhD
Professor and Head, Department of Pathobiology
Office Phone: 215-898-8561
Office Fax: 215-573-7023
Email: farrellj@phl.vet.upenn.edu
Website(s):
Education: PhD 1972, Rutgers University
Keywords: T cells, Parasites, Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani
Research and/or Clinical Interests:
Basic mechanisms by which costimulatory interactions and cytokines regulate T cell responses and immunity to leishmaniasis.
Summary:
Our laboratory is interested in determining the immunological events that influence the development of resistance to the protozoan infection, leishmaniasis, a disease of global human health importance. Our recent focus has been to understand the role of costimulatory molecules in regulating the immune response to this disease. Using mouse models of human infection, we are attempting to understand how stimuli delivered through specific cell receptors expressed on lymphocytes and macrophages influence the function of these cells. Specifically, we are interested in how signaling pathways such as the CD40-CD40L pathway, influence the immune response. Considerable evidence suggests that the interaction of CD40 ligand on T cells with CD40 expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, directs the production of cytokines such as IL-12 that regulate the development of protective immunity. However, other costimulatory interactions such as TRANCE-RANK interaction can promote similar responses in mice lacking CD40 ligand. How these pathways interact to promote resistance to infection has implications for the development of vaccines against intracellular pathogens.
Representative Publications:
Padigel UM, Kim N, Choi Y, Farrell JP. TRANCE-RANK Costimulation is Required for IL-12 Production and the Initiation of a Th1-Type Response to Leishmania major Infection in CD40L-Deficient Mice. J Immunol. 171: 5437-41, 2003
Padigel UM, Alexander J, Farrell JP. The role of interleukin-10 in susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection with Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania amazonensis . J Immunol. 171:3705-10, 2003.
Padigel UM, Farrell JP. CD40-CD40 ligand costimulation is not required for initiation and maintenance of a Th1-type response to Leishmania major infection. Infect Immun. 71:1389-95, 2003
Li J, Padigel UM, Scott P, Farrell JP. Combined treatment with interleukin-12 and indomethacin promotes increased resistance in BALB/c mice with established Leishmania major infections. Infect Immun. 70:5715-20, 2002.
Compton HL, Farrell JP. CD28 costimulation and parasite dose combine to influence the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to infection with Leishmania major . J Immunol. 168:1302-8, 2002.
Li, J., P. Scott, and J.P.Farrell. 1996. In vivo alterations in cytokine production following interleukin-12 (IL-12) and anti-IL-4 antibody treatment of CB6F1 mice with chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Infection and Immunity 62: 5248-5254.
Li, J., T.J.Nolan, and J.P.Farrell. 1997. Leishmania major: A clone with low virulence for BALB/c mice elicits a Th1 type response and protects against infection with a highly virulent clone. Exp. Parasitol. Experimental Parasitology 87:47-57.
Li, J., S. Sutterwala, and J.P. Farrell. 1997. Successful therapy of chronic, nonhealing murine cutaneous leishmaniasis with sodium stibogluconate and gamma interferon depends on continued interleukin-12 production. Infection and Immunity 65:3225-3230.
Scott, P. and J.P. Farrell. 1998. Experimental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Induction and regulation of T cells Following Infection with Leishmania major. Chemical Immunology 70:60-80.
Li, J. , C.A. Hunter and J.P. Farrell. 1999. Anti-TGF-b treatment promotes rapid healing of Leishmania major infection in mice by enhancing in vivo nitric oxide production. J. Immunol.162:974-979.
