Links:
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Research Program
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Faculty Laboratories:
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| Andrew Mellor, PhD |
| David Munn, MD |
| Pandelakis Koni, PhD |
| Michiko Shimoda, PhD |
| Affiliated Faculty: |
| Yukia He, MD, PhD |
David H. Munn, MD
email: dmunn@mail.mcg.edu
Research Emphasis:
Our laboratory studies the regulation of T cell activation by antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). A major focus of the laboratory is the immunoregulatory role of tryptophan metabolism via the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expressed by antigen-presenting cells. Active projects include: (1) the role of IDO-expressing plasmacytoid dendritic cells in tumor immunology; (2) Treg activation by IDO; and (3) preclinical development and clinical trials of IDO inhibitor drugs and combination chemo-immunotherapy in patients with cancer.
Laboratory members:
Madhav Sharma, PhD; DeYan Hou, PhD; Joyce Wilson; Judy Gregory; Anita Sharma
Selected recent publications:
- Mellor AL, Munn, DH. Creating immune privilege: active local suppression that benefits friends but protects foes. Nature Rev Immunol 8:74-80 (2008)
- Hou DY, Muller AJ, Sharma M, DuHadaway J, Banerjee T, Johnson M, Mellor AL, Prendergast GC, Munn DH*. Inhibition of IDO in dendritic cells by stereoisomers of 1-methyl-tryptophan correlates with anti-tumor responses. Cancer Res 67:792-801 (2007)
- Munn DH*, Mellor AL. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tumor-induced tolerance. J Clin Invest 117:1147-11544 (2007)
- Sharma MD, Baban B, Chandler P, Hou DY, Singh N, Yagita H, Azuma M, Blazar BR, Mellor AL, Munn DH*. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells from mouse tumor-draining lymph nodes directly activate mature Tregs via indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. J Clin Invest 117:2570-2582 (2007)
- Munn DH, Sharma MD, Baban B, Harding HP, Zhang Y, Ron D, Mellor AL. GCN2 kinase in T cells mediates proliferative arrest and anergy induction in response to indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase. Immunity 22:633-642 (2005)
- Munn DH, Sharma MD, Hou D, Baban B, Lee JR, Antonia SJ, Messina JL, Chandler P, Koni PA, Mellor AL. Expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. J Clin Invest 114:280-190 (2004)
- Munn DH, Sharma M, Lee J, Jhaver KG, Johnson TS, Keskin DB, Marshall B, Chandler P, Antonia SJ, Burgess R, Slingluff CL Jr, Mellor AL. Potential regulatory function of human dendritic cells expressing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Science 297:1867-1870 (2002)
- Munn DH, Zhou M, Attwood JT, Bondarev I, Conway S, Marshall B, Brown C, Mellor AL. Prevention of allogeneic fetal rejection by tryptophan catabolism. Science 281:1191-1193, 1998