Joseph P. McGillis Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Microbiology and Immunology
Phone:
(859) 323-6721
Fax:
(859) 257-3409
E-mail:
jpmcgi01@uky.edu
|
Research Interests There are
currently two research interests in my laboratory. The first is focused on defining the
molecular mechanisms by which the brain and the immune system communicate. Recent
observations suggest the sensory neuro peptides substance P and calcitonin gene-related
peptide (CGRP) modulate the function of immune and inflammatory cells by specific receptor
mediated mechanisms. Our studies found that mature T and B cells, certain lymphoid tumor
cell lines, and cells in the bone marrow express specific high affinity receptors for
CGRP. Current projects are focused on the molecular cloning and biochemical
characterization of the CGRP receptor, and on defining the biologic role of CGRP on immune
and inflammatory responses. The latter include studies on the role of CGRP in early B
lymphocyte differentiation in the bone marrow. The goal of the second project is to
understand the normal and pathologic functions of amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is
a large cellular protein which gives rise to the 42 amino acid amyloid ß peptide found in
amyloid plaques in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We recently found that APP
expression is unregulated by cellular stress. Our current studies are focusing on the role
of APP as a cellular stress/inflammatory mediator at the vascular-endothelial barrier.
Further studies will continue to focus on the role of APP as a cellular
stress/inflammatory mediator, and will try to define conditions under which its abnormal
expression and processing could lead to the lesions found in AD.
Research Publications/Presentations
Ciallella, J.R., Rangnekar, V., and McGillis, J.P. Heat shock alters
Alzheimer’s ß amyloid precursor protein expression in human
endothelial cells. J. of Neuroscience Research, 37:769-776, 1994.
McGillis, J.P. Neuro peptides as immunomodulators: Measurement of
calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors in the immune system. IN: Methods in
Neurosciences: Neuroimmunology, Vol. 24. (M.I.Phillips and D. Evans, Eds.) Academic Press,
New York, 355-388, 1995. |
