Faculty

Vanja Lazarevic, Ph.D.

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Adjunct Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information
National Institutes of Health
Building 10; Room 5A33
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Office: 2408583344
Education:
B.Sc. (Microbiology)
University of Nottingham, 1999.
Ph.D. (Molecular Virology and Microbiology)
University of Pittsburgh, 2004.
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Description of Research Expertise

Dysregulated gene expression due to aberrant activation or inactivation of transcription factors results in sustained and elevated expression of immune-related genes leading to chronic inflammation. The research in my laboratory is devoted to understanding how transcription factors and their downstream targets drive the process of autoimmune inflammation. I have extensive research experience in molecular and cellular immunology, biochemistry, genetics and animal models of disease (infection and autoimmunity), which I integrate to comprehensively understand the mechanisms by which transcription factors orchestrate immune responses against self and foreign antigens at a molecular, cellular and systemic level. As an investigator at the National Institutes of Health, I currently lead a dynamic research group focused on elucidating where and how transcription factor T-bet impacts development of organ-specific autoimmunity. Gaining an understanding of how transcription factor T-bet and its target genes link molecular pathways to pathogenic effector functions of innate and adaptive immune cells could aid in the generation of effective therapeutics targeted towards the treatment of autoimmune conditions. Additionally, we are mapping and functionally characterizing transcription factor networks that regulate differentiation of pathogenic CD4+ T cells. Understanding the mechanisms by which intracellular signaling events evoke the pathogenic phenotype in differentiating TH17 cells and how the “pathogenic” fate of CD4+ T cells is transcriptionally regulated is critical for the selective inhibition of detrimental CD4+ T cells in autoimmunity.

Selected Publications

Singh Anju, Dashnyam Myagmarjav, Chim Bryan, Escobar Thelma M, Dulcey Andrés E, Hu Xin, Wilson Kelli M, Koganti Prasanthi P, Spinner Camille A, Xu Xin, Jadhav Ajit, Southall Noel, Marugan Juan, Selvaraj Vimal, Lazarevic Vanja, Muljo Stefan A, Ferrer Marc: Anxiolytic Drug FGIN-1-27 Ameliorates Autoimmunity by Metabolic Reprogramming of Pathogenic Th17 Cells. Scientific reports 10(1): 3766, Feb 2020.

Angelou Constance C, Wells Alexandria C, Vijayaraghavan Jyothi, Dougan Carey E, Lawlor Rebecca, Iverson Elizabeth, Lazarevic Vanja, Kimura Motoko Y, Peyton Shelly R, Minter Lisa M, Osborne Barbara A, Pobezinskaya Elena L, Pobezinsky Leonid A: Differentiation of Pathogenic Th17 Cells Is Negatively Regulated by Let-7 MicroRNAs in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Frontiers in immunology 10: 3125, Jan 2019 Notes: No issue number.

Tamoutounour Samira, Han Seong-Ji, Deckers Julie, Constantinides Michael G, Hurabielle Charlotte, Harrison Oliver J, Bouladoux Nicolas, Linehan Jonathan L, Link Verena M, Vujkovic-Cvijin Ivan, Perez-Chaparro Paula Juliana, Rosshart Stephan P, Rehermann Barbara, Lazarevic Vanja, Belkaid Yasmine: Keratinocyte-intrinsic MHCII expression controls microbiota-induced Th1 cell responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 116(47): 23643-23652, 11 2019.

Loo Tiffany T, Gao Yuanyuan, Lazarevic Vanja: Transcriptional regulation of CD4 T  cells that mediate tissue inflammation. Journal of leukocyte biology 104(6): 1069-1085, 12 2018.

Dutta Dipankar J, Woo Dong Ho, Lee Philip R, Pajevic Sinisa, Bukalo Olena, Huffman William C, Wake Hiroaki, Basser Peter J, SheikhBahaei Shahriar, Lazarevic Vanja, Smith Jeffrey C, Fields R Douglas: Regulation of myelin structure and conduction velocity by perinodal astrocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115(46): 11832-11837, 11 2018.

Dutzan Nicolas, Kajikawa Tetsuhiro, Abusleme Loreto, Greenwell-Wild Teresa, Zuazo Carlos E, Ikeuchi Tomoko, Brenchley Laurie, Abe Toshiharu, Hurabielle Charlotte, Martin Daniel, Morell Robert J, Freeman Alexandra F, Lazarevic Vanja, Trinchieri Giorgio, Diaz Patricia I, Holland Steven M, Belkaid Yasmine, Hajishengallis George, Moutsopoulos Niki M: A dysbiotic microbiome triggers T17 cells to mediate oral mucosal immunopathology in mice and humans. Science translational medicine 10(463): pii: eaat0797, 10 2018.

Kwong Brandon, Rua Rejane, Gao Yuanyuan, Flickinger John, Wang Yan, Kruhlak Michael J, Zhu Jinfang, Vivier Eric, McGavern Dorian B, Lazarevic Vanja: T-bet-dependent NKp46 innate lymphoid cells regulate the onset of Th17-induced neuroinflammation. Nature immunology 18(10): 1117-1127, Oct 2017.

Waickman Adam T, Ligons Davinna L, Hwang SuJin, Park Joo-Young, Lazarevic Vanja, Sato Noriko, Hong Changwan, Park Jung-Hyun: CD4 effector T cell differentiation is controlled by IL-15 that is expressed and presented in trans. Cytokine 99: 266-274, 11 2017 Notes: No issue number.

Lazarevic Vanja, Szabo Susanne, Glimcher Laurie H: T-bet Runs INTERFERence. Immunity 46(6): 968-970, 06 2017.

Liu Ce Feng, Brandt Gabriel S, Hoang Quyen Q, Naumova Natalia, Lazarevic Vanja, Hwang Eun Sook, Dekker Job, Glimcher Laurie H, Ringe Dagmar, Petsko Gregory A: Crystal structure of the DNA binding domain of the transcription factor T-bet suggests simultaneous recognition of distant genome sites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 113(43): E6572-E6581, 10 2016.

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Last updated: 07/22/2020
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