Immunology Graduate Group

Jan Erikson, Ph.D.
Professor, Immunology
The Wistar Institute

Address: Rm.276, 3601 Spruce St
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office Phone: (215) 898-3823
Lab Phone: (215) 898-3822
Fax: (215) 573-9053
Email: jan@wistar.upenn.edu

Education:
Postdoctoral study, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Postdoctoral study, Stanford University Medical School
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
B.S., University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests

B cell, T cell, and dendritic cell interactions that mediate tolerance and immunity
Lymphocyte trafficking
Modification of lymphocyte activation via mediators of innate immunity

Research Summary
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the presence of specific autoantibodies that are generally absent from the functional repertoire of healthy animals . Our objectives have been to define the cellular and molecular interactions that influence autoantibody expression, first, by determining how healthy animals regulate autoantibody production, and second, by identifying the critical lesion(s) in these regulatory processes that lead to autoimmunity. Our focus has been on autoantibody producing B cells, on T cells that are required for B cell stimulation, and on dendritic cells, which are key initiators in adaptive immunity. More recent studies are directed at understanding the interplay of adaptive and innate immunity on lymphocyte regulation.

Localization of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells to the T/B interface in non-autoimmune mice

Recent Publications

Mandik-Nayak, L., Seo, S-J., Sokol, C., Potts, K.M., Bui, A., and Erikson, J. 1999. MRL-lpr/lpr mice exhibit a defect in maintaining developmental arrest and follicular exclusion of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells. J. Exp. Med. 189: 1799-1814.

Mandik-Nayak, L., Seo, S-J., Eaton-Bassiri, A., Allman, D., Hardy, R.R., and Erikson, J. 2000. Functional consequences of the developmental arrest and follicular exclusion of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells. J. Immunol. 164: 1161-1168.

Mandik-Nayak, L., Nayak, S., Sokol, C., Eaton-Bassiri, A., Madaio, M.P., Caton, A.J., and Erikson, J. 2000. The origin of anti-nuclear antibodies in bcl-2 transgenic mice. Int. Immunol. 12: 353-364.

Eaton-Bassiri, A.S., Mandik-Nayak, L., Seo, S-J., Madaio, M.P., Cancro, M.P., and Erikson, J. 2000. Alterations in splenic architecture and the localization of anti-dsDNA B cells in aged mice. Int. Immunol. 12: 915-926.

Seo S.J., Buckler J., and Erikson J. 2001. Novel roles for lyn in B cell migration and lipopolysaccharide responsiveness revealed using anti-double-stranded DNA Ig transgenic mice. J. Immunol. 166: 3710-3723.

Fields, M.L., Sokol, C., Eaton-Bassiri, A., Seo, S., Madaio, M., and Erikson, J. 2001. Fas/FasL-deficiency results in altered localization of anti-dsDNA B cells and dendritic cells. J. Immunol. 167: 2370-2378.

Seo, S., Fields, M.L., Buckler, J.L., Reed, A.J., Mandik-Nayak, L., Nish, S.A., Noelle, R.J., Turka, L.A., Finkelman, F.D., Caton, A., and Erikson, J. 2002. The impact of T helper and T regulatory cells on the regulation of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells. Immunity 16: 535-546.

Seo S.J., Mandik-Nayak, L., and Erikson J. 2003. B Cell Anergy and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Current Directions in Autoimmunity, (Nemazee, D., ed.) Basel, Karger, Vol. 6, pp. 1-20.

Fields, M.L., and Erikson, J. 2003. The regulation of lupus-associated autoantibodies: immunoglobulin transgenic models. Current Opinion in Immunology, in press.

 

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