Martha S. Jordan, Ph.D.
Martha S. Jordan, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Contact information
414 BRB II/III
421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
421 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-746-5546
Fax: 215-746-5525
Fax: 215-746-5525
Email:
jordanm@mail.med.upenn.edu
jordanm@mail.med.upenn.edu
Education:
BS (Biology)
University of Richmond, 1994.
Ph.D. (Immunology)
University of Pennsylvania, 2000.
Permanent linkBS (Biology)
University of Richmond, 1994.
Ph.D. (Immunology)
University of Pennsylvania, 2000.
Description of Research Expertise
Research Summary:Most T cells develop in the thymus and exit into the peripheral lymphoid organs as naïve cells. Once in the periphery, these cells can become activated by encounter with foreign antigens and differentiate into effector T cells. In addition to naïve cells, the thymus also generates T cells that gain efffector function during thymic development. Such cells include natural killer (NK) T cells and T cells. These cells are thought to coordinate innate and adaptive immune responses.
More recently, CD8+ CD4˜ (CD8SP) and CD4+ CD8˜ (CD4SP) TCR thymocyte populations that gain effector function during development in the thymus have been identified. These cell types include CD4+ regulatory T cells, which suppress the activation of conventional T cells; CD4+ natural Th17 cells, which are primed to secrete IL-17, an important cytokine in mucosal immunity and autoimmunity; and CD8+ innate-like lymphocytes (ILLs), which possess characteristics of innate and memory lymphocytes. My laboratory is interested in understanding the cellular and biochemical factors that regulate the development of these cells and their function during immune responses.