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Office: (859) 257-6573
Fax: (859) 257-8994
Lab: (859) 257-6574
Email: cskaet@uky.edu
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Charlotte Kaetzel, Ph.D.
Professor
Doctoral Studies: University of Maryland.
Postdoctoral: University of Maryland and Case Western Reserve University.
Research Statement:
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies are the first line of immune defense in mucous membranes, protecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts from inhaled, ingested and sexually transmitted pathogens. Transport of IgA into external secretions is mediated by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR). Our laboratory studies transcriptional regulation of the PIGR gene in human intestinal epithelial cells. PIGR gene transcription is up-regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, microbial components that signal through Toll-like receptors, and by infection with reovirus, an intestinal pathogen. We are currently mapping signaling pathways and transcription factors that participate in PIGR gene regulation. This research is relevant to understanding the function of IgA in combating mucosal infections, and in the development of mucosal vaccines that stimulate IgA production and transport. Our research also explores the dysregulation of IgA transport in colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other diseases of the intestine.
Selected Recent Publications:
Kaetzel, C. S. (2005) The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor: bridging innate and adaptive immune responses at mucosal surfaces. Immunol. Rev. 206:83-99. [Article]
Schneeman, T.A., Bruno, M.E.C., Schjerven, H., Johansen, F.-E, Chady, L. & Kaetzel, C.S. Regulation of the polymeric Ig receptor by signaling through Toll-like receptors 3 and 4: linking innate and adaptive immune responses. J. Immunol, 175:376-384. PDF
Bruno, M.E.C. & Kaetzel, C.S. (2005) Long-term exposure of the HT-29 human intestinal epithelial cell-line to TNF causes sustained up-regulation of the polymeric Ig receptor and pro-inflammatory genes through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. J. Immunol., 174:7278-7284. PDF
Pal, K., Kaetzel, C.S. & Cuff, C.F. (2005) Regulation of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor expression by reovirus. J. Gen. Virology 86:2347-2357. PDF
Khattar, N.H., Lele, S. & Kaetzel, C.S. (2005) Down-regulation of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor in non-small cell lung carcinoma: correlation with dysregulated expression of the transcription factors USF and AP2. J. Biomed Sci. 12:65-77. PDF
Elm, C., Ranveig, B., Bergmann, S., Frank, R., Vaerman, J.-P., Kaetzel, C.S., Chhatwal, G.S., Johansen, F.-E. & Hammerschmidt, S. (2004) Ectodomains 3 and 4 of human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (hpIgR) mediate invasion of Streptococcus pneumoniae into the epithelium. J. Biol. Chem. 279:6296-6304. PDF
Bruno, M.E.C, West, R.B., Schneeman, T.A., Bresnick, E.H. & Kaetzel, C.S. (2004) Upstream Stimulatory Factor but not c Myc enhances transcription of the human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor gene. Mol. Immunol. 40:695-708. PDF
Traicoff, J.L., De Marchis, L., Ginsburg, B.L., Zamora, R.E., Khattar, N.H., Blanch, V.J., Plummer, S., Bargo, S.A., Templeton, D.L., Casey, G. & Kaetzel, C.S. (2003) Characterization of the human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR) 3’UTR and differential expression of PIGR mRNA during colon tumorigenesis. J. Biomed. Sci. 10:792-804. PDF
Hempen, P.M., Phillips, K.M., Conway, P.S., Sandoval, K.H., Wu, H.-J. & Kaetzel, C.S. (2002) Transcriptional regulation of the human polymeric Ig receptor gene: analysis of basal promoter elements. J. Immunol. 169:1912-1921. PDF
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