Cellular Immunology Section - Division of Intramural Research

 Henry   McFarland  M.D., Acting Chief



Laboratory Staff

Stephanie Adams, , Patient Coordinator , 301-496- 1801
Gregg Blevins, M.D., Clinical Fellow , 301-496- 0518
Katherine  Chung, B.S., Student , 301-496- 0518
Harald Gelderblom, M.D., Postdoctoral Fellow , 301-496- 0518
Emily Gilles, , Student , 301-451- 9566
Azita Kashani, B.S., Research Assistant , 301-496- 0518
Jan Lunemann , M.D., Postdoctoral Fellow
Paolo Muraro, M.D., Ph.D., Research Fellow , 301-594- 7217
Joan Ohayon, , Nurse , 301-496- 0064
Deric Park, M.D., Clinical Fellow , 301-496- 0518
Susan Reichert-Scrivner, M.S., Research Assistant , 301-496- 0518
Jacqueline Shukaliak-Quandt, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow , 301-496- 0518
Mireia Sospedra, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow , 301-496- 4105
Xiang Wang, M.Sc, Senior Research Assistant , 301-402- 4488

Research Interests

We are interested in a better understanding of how the cellular immune system in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients reacts to autoantigens of the central nervous system. Our research includes studies on the molecular mechanisms of T cell recognition, i.e. how T lymphocytes recognize antigens in the context of MS-associated HLA-DR antigens, in particular HLA-DR15 Dw2. These experiments address the functional and phenotypic repertoire of T cells responding to various myelin antigens including myelin basic protein (MBP), 2’3’-cyclic nucleotide-3’ phosphodiesterase (CNPase), proteolipidprotein (PLP), myelin oligodendroglia glycoprotein (MOG), and myelin oligodendroglia basic protein (MOBP), but also which foreign agents may trigger autoreactive T cells via molecular mimicry. Through collaborations, we develop novel methods to study molecular mimicry. Along studies of the immunologic pathomechanisms of MS, we try to design new immunotherapeuties based on the concepts evolving from the above work. It is our final goal to develop these new therapeutic strategies until they are applicable in MS patients and test them in phase I/II trials. Candidate therapies which are currently being studied are altered peptide ligands based on MBP peptide (83-99) as a highly specific immunomodulation, phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitors to block Th1-cytokines, and the administration of a humanized monoclonal antibody against the IL-2 receptor a-chain expressed on activated T cells. In treatment trials as well as in longitudinal studies of disease activity in MS patients immunologic disease markers (measured by ELISA, quantitative PCR, cDNA microarrays, T cell frequencies and specificity) are correlated with the clinical course and disease activity as assessed by MRI. These experiments shall not only help us to evaluate the efficacy of novel treatments, but also try to prove the pathogenetic concepts derived from animal studies.

Selected Recent Publications

Kondo, T., Cortese, I., Markovic-Plese, S., Wandinger, K.-P., Carter, C., Brown, M., Leitman, S., Martin, R.
Dendritic cells signal T cells in the absence of exogenous antigen. - Nat. Immunol.  2 932-938 2001

Kondo, T., Cortese, I., Markovic-Plese, S., Wandinger, K.-P., Carter, C., Brown, M., Leitman, S., Martin, R.
Dendritic cells signal T cells in the absence of exogenous antigen. - Nat. Immunol.  2 932-938 2001

Bielekova, B., Goodwin, B., Richert, N., Kondo, T., Eaton, J., Afshar, G., Antel, J. Frank, J.A., McFarland, H.F., Martin, R.
Encephalitogenic potential of myelin basic protein peptide (83-99) in multiple sclerosis – Results of a phase II clinical trial with an altered peptide ligand.  - Nature Medicine  6 1167-1175 2000

Hemmer, B.*, Gran, B.*, Zhao, Y., Marques, A., Pinilla, C., Pascal, J., Tzou, A., Kondo, T., Cortese, I., Bielekova, B., Straus, S., McFarland, H.F., Houghten, R., Simon, R., Martin, R.
Identification of candidate epitopes and molecular mimics in chronic Lyme disease.  - Nature Medicine  5 1375-1382 1999

Hemmer, B., Fleckenstein, B, Vergelli, M., Jung, G., McFarland, H.F., Martin, R., Wiesmüller, K.-H.
Identification of high potency microbial and self ligands for a human autoreactive class II restricted T cell clone. - J. Exp. Med.  185 1651-1659  1997

Muraro, P.A., Vergelli, M., Kalbus, M., Banks, D., Nagle, J.W., Tranquill, L.R., Nepom, G., Biddison, W.E., McFarland, H.F., Martin, R.
Immunodominance of a low-affinity major histocompatibility complex-binding myelin basic protein epitope (residues 111-129) in HLA-DR4 (B1*0401) subjects is associated with a restricted T cell receptor repertoire. - J. Clin. Invest.  100 339-349 1997

Selected Earlier Publications

Contact Information

Cellular Immunology Section Neuroimmunology Branch, NINDS  Building 10, Room 5B06  10 Center Drive, MSC 1400 Bethesda MD  20892-1400

Telephone: 301-402- 4488 (office), 301- 594-9084 (laboratory), 301-402- 0373 (fax), Email: mcfarlah@ninds.nih.gov