Immunology Graduate Program

Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Immune System

Elizabeth Field, M.D.

Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Office: 1001 VAMC
Phone: 319-339-7078
Email: liz-field@icva.gov
Immunologic tolerance, transplantation immunology
 
Research in the Field laboratory addresses the mechanisms of immunological tolerance. The current projects focus on elucidating the mode of action of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, a specialized subset of CD4 T lymphocytes that function to regulate the balance between tolerance and immunity. (1) The dynamic cell:cell interactions between live CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells, effector CD4+ T cells and dendritic cells are defined with real-time dual laser time lapsed confocal microscopy. (2) The dynamic protein:protein interactions of interleukin-2 with its receptor are examined with fluorescent confocal imaging of live cells in vitro, using cells transfected to express genetically engineered fluorescent-tagged fusion proteins. The movements of the fluorescent-tagged proteins are monitored within and between T cells by time lapsed fluorescent confocal microscopy to define the IL-2/IL-2 receptor autocrine and paracrine trafficking during both a normal immune response and an immune response that is regulated by CD4+CD25+ T cells. The project is in collaboration with Dr. Michael E. Dailey, Biological Sciences, University of Iowa.
 
Selected Publications
Click Here for a Complete List of Articles
Kulhankova, K., George, C.L., Kline, J.N., Snyder, J.M., Darling, M.,  Field  E.H. and Thorne, P.S. Early-life co-administration of cockroach allergen and endotoxin augments pulmonary and systemic responses. Clin Exp Allergy. 39(7):1069-79, 2009.

 Field  E.H., Kulhankova, K. and Nasr, M.E. Natural Tregs, CD4+CD25+ inhibitory hybridomas, and their cell contact dependent suppression. Immunol Res. 39(1-3):62-78, 2007.

Kashiwada, M., Cattoretti, G., McKeag, L., Rouse, T., Showalter, B.M., Al-Alem, U., Niki, M., Pandolfi, P.P.,  Field  E.H. and Rothman, P.B. Downstream of tyrosine kinases-1 and Src homology 2-containing inositol 5'-phosphatase are required for regulation of CD4+CD25+ T cell development. J Immunol. 176(7):3958-65, 2006.

Lenert, P., Brummel, R.,  Field  E.H. and Ashman, R.F. TLR-9 activation of marginal zone B cells in lupus mice regulates immunity through increased IL-10 production. J Clin Immunol. 25(1):29-40, 2005.

Department/Program Affiliations
Internal Medicine
Biosciences
Immunology
MSTP