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Thomas Jefferson University - Catherine Calkins, Ph.D.
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Catherine Calkins, Ph.D.
Microbiology and Immunology
Thomas Jefferson University
Jefferson Medical College
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Professor
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Mailing Address
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1020 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
United States
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Expertise and Research Interests
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One project on-going in my laboratory is an investigation of the normal mechanisms of regulating immune responsiveness to self antigens. Specifically, we are studying the response to self erythrocytes (MRBC) in normal BALB/c mice and in NZB mice that spontaneously develop anti-MRBC responses by 6-9 months of age. We have demonstrated that both T and B cells reactive to self erythrocytes are present in normal as well as autoimmune mice. In culture, development of anti-erythrocyte autoantibody responses depend upon CD4 positive helper T cells and can be suppressed by CD8 positive T cells. Studies in the literature have suggested that the NZB autoantibodies are specific for Band 3 on erythrocyte membranes. In collaboration with Dr. Peter Curtis (Department of Microbiology), we are investigating the specific epitope on the Band 3 molecule that is recognized by NZB autoantibodies and by the autoimmune B cells detectable in normal mice. We will also determine if there are any changes in the fine specificity of the anti-self erythrocyte response throughout the course of the autoimmune disease in the NZB mice.
The second project, being done in collaboration with Dr. Mark Feitelson (Dept. of Pathology), is an investigation of the immune responses that cause chronic hepatitis B. We are studying a mouse model of the disease in which immunodeficient SCID mice, expressing HBV as a transgene, are given immunocompetent lymphocytes as adults. After 3-12 weeks, these mice begin to show signs of hepatitis, including liver enzymes in the circulation, loss of HBV envelope expression in the liver, and cellular infiltrates into the liver. We are now analyzing the immune cells of these mice to determine the nature of the immune reactivity to HBV in terms of specificity and cytokine production, size of response and timing. We are also comparing the responses developed during chronic disease with those developed during acute disease in order to gain an understanding of the regulatory mechanisms contributing to development of disease.
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Keywords
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Autoimmunity; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia; Regulation Of Immune Responses; Cytokines; Cellular Immunology; Viral Immunology; Hepatitis B Virus; HBV-mediated chronic liver disease; Tju Equipment: Coulter Counter; Cytospin
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Publications
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- Chichester, J.A., M.A. Feitelson, and C. E. Calkins. Transient Inhibition of Th1-type cytokine production by CD4+ T cells in HBcAg immunized mice is mediated by regulatory T cells. Immunology, 118:438-448, 2006.
- Chichester, J.A., M.A. Feitelson, and C. E. Calkins. Different response requirements for IFNgamma production in ELISPOT assays by CD4+ T cells from mice early and late after immunization. J. Immunol. Meth., 309:99-107, 2006.
- Smith, M.E., M. Koser, S. Xiao, C. Siler, J.O. McGettigan, C. Calkins, R.J. Pomerantz, B. Dietzschold, and M.J. Schnell. Rabies Virus Glycoprotein as a carrier for Anthrax protective antigen. Virology 353:344-356, 2006.
- Wooley PH, Sud S, Langendorfer A, Calkins C, Christner PJ, Peters J, Jimenez SA. T cells infiltrating the skin of Tsk2 scleroderma-like mice exhibit T cell receptor bias. Autoimmunity. 27(2): 91-8, 1998.
- Calkins CE, Esposito M. Differences between normal and autoimmune T cell responses to autologous erythrocytes and haemoglobin: impairment of haptoglobin-mediated inhibition in NZB spleen cells. Journal of Autoimmunity. 9(4): 453-62, Aug 1996
- Chang CF, Otte J, Kerr DA, Valkkila M, Calkins CE, Khalili K. Evidence that the soluble factors secreted by activated immune cells suppress replication of human neurotropic JC virus DNA in glial cells. Virology. 221(1): 226-31, Jul 1996
- Miller RD, Caulfield MJ, Calkins CE. Expression and regulation of a recurrent anti-erythrocyte autoantibody idiotype in spleen cells from neonatal and adult BALB/c mice. Journal of Immunology. 148(8): 2452-5, Apr 1992
- Davidson WF, Calkins C, Hugins A, Giese T, Holmes KL. Cytokine secretion by C3H-lpr and -gld T cells. Hypersecretion of IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by stimulated CD4 T cells. Journal of Immunology. 146(12): 4138-48, Jun 1991
- Calkins CE, Cochran SA, Miller RD, Caulfield MJ. Evidence for regulation of the autoimmune anti-erythrocyte response by idiotype-specific suppressor T cells in NZB mice. International Immunology. 2(2): 127-33, 1990
- Miller RD, Calkins CE. Development of self-tolerance in normal mice. Appearance of suppressor cells that maintain adult self-tolerance follows the neonatal autoantibody response. Journal of Immunology. 141(7): 2206-10, Oct 1988
- Miller RD, Calkins CE. Suppressor T cells and self-tolerance. Active suppression required for normal regulation of anti-erythrocyte autoantibody responses in spleen cells from nonautoimmune mice. Journal of Immunology. 140(11): 3779-85, Jun 1988
- Rothermel AL, Calkins CE. Effect of antigen priming on T-cell suppression. I. Activity of Ly 1 2 feedback suppressor T-cell precursors after isolation from competing Ly 2-T cells. Cellular Immunology. 109(1): 25-38, Oct 1987
- Moore JS, Calkins CE. In vitro regulation of the pathogenic autoantibody response of New Zealand black mice. I. Loss with age of suppressive activity in T cell populations. Journal of Immunology. 134(6): 3838-44, Jun 1985
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Individual Expertise profile of
Catherine Calkins, Ph.D., Copyright © Catherine Calkins, Ph.D..
Last Updated
by Catherine Calkins, Ph.D. : Friday, November 20, 2009 10:14:58 AM
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