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| The laboratory’s work focuses on the role of NK cells in health and disease. This topic is explored in bench research endeavors, in translational research and in clinical research. Current research projects are as follows: | ||||||
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1-Augmentation of NK cell activity by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) and their use in tumor immunotherapy. CpG ODN are potent inducers of NK cell activity. We have shown that CpG ODN, by virtue of their augmentation of NK cell activity, can serve as monotherapy in a murine model of melanoma. We are currently investigating the mechanism of this observation. We are also involved in a phase I/II clinical trial using CpG, alone or in combination with other immunomodulators, in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
2-NK cell activity in Alcoholism. Alcoholic patients are known to have suppressed immune systems. We are currently examining the effect of acute and chronic alcohol ingestion on NK cell activity in a murine model. 3-Clinical spectrum of patients with NK cell deficiency. We have reported several patients with NK cell deficiency each of whom had a different clinical presentation. We are currently investigating the role of NK cell, in humans, in chronic candidiasis. 4-Translational application of novel immunomodulators to human diseases. |
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| Selected Publications | ||||||
| Click Here for a Complete List of Articles | ||||||
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Cook, R.T., Schlueter, A.J., Coleman, R.A., Tygrett, L., Ballas Z.K., Jerrell, T.R., Nashelsky, M.B., Ray, N.B., Haugen, T.H. and Waldschmidt, T.J. Thymocytes, pre-B cells, and organ changes in a mouse model of chronic ethanol ingestion-absence of subset-specific glucocorticoid-induced immune cell loss. Alcoholism Clin. Exp. Res. 31:1-13, 2007.
Ballas Z.K. Modulation of NK cell activity by CpG oligodeoxynucleo-tides. Immunol Res 39:15-21, 2007. Ballas Z.K. Imunomodulators: A brave new world. J. Allergy clin Immunol 121:331-333, 2008. Shey, M.R. and Ballas Z.K. Assessment of natural killer (NK) and NKT cells in murine spleens and livers. Methods Mol Biol 447:259-276, 2008. Svensson R.U., Shey, M.R., Ballas Z.K., Dorkin, J.R., Goldberg, M., Akinc, A., Langer, R., Anderson, D.B., Bumcrot, D. and Henry, M.D. Assessing siRNA pharmacodyna-mics in a liciferase-expressing mouse. Mol Ther 16:1995-2001, 2008. Epub Sep 9, 2008. |
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| Department/Program Affiliations |
| Internal Medicine |
| Biosciences |
| Immunology |