Zhong Lab
Xuemei Zhong, PhD
Assistant Professor
Education:
PhD, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
General field of research:
Immunology
Affiliations other than medicine:
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
Department of Medicine, Hematology Oncology Section, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center
Contact information:
Office
Rm. 437A, EBRC, 650 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617)-638 7028
Lab
Rm. 430, EBRC, 650 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617)-638 7535/7029
Fax: (617)-638 7140
Other research websites:
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/hematology/research-activities/xuemei-zhong-phd-2/
Research group information
Chunyan Bai, Research Assistant, ChuYan.Bai@bmc.org
John P. Lovell, Summer student, jlovell@bu.edu
Lynsie Ranker, Summer student, ranker@bc.edu
Do Quyen T. Pham, Lab Technical Assistant, quyenp83@yahoo.com
Keywords:
B1 B cell; Regulatory T cells; Regulatory B cells; inflammation; Autoimmune diseases; Cardiovascular diseases
Summary of research interest:
Our lab is interested in studying B cells mediated immune regulation in autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular diseases. We are particularly interested in a sub-population of B lymphocytes called B1 B cells. Our preliminary study revealed many faces of B1 B cells in health and diseases. On one hand B1 B cells are critical for immune defense and immune regulation through interaction with other immune cells and producing natural antibodies. On the other hand, B1 B cells are potential “troublemakers” in autoimmune diseases because of their auto-reactivity. A better understanding of the balance between the immune-regulation and pathogenicity of B1 B cells are of significant importance in studying inflammatory autoimmune diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Recent publications:
Zhong, X., T. J. Schneider, et al. (2001). An alternatively spliced long form of Fas apoptosis inhibitory molecule (FAIM) with tissue-specific expression in the brain. Mol Immunol 38: 65-72.
Zhong, X.,, T. Mizuno, and T. L. Rothstein. (2003). Fas-induced apoptosis in B cells. Apoptosis 8:451.
Zhong, X., C. Bai, W. Gao, T. B. Strom, and T. L. Rothstein. (2004). Featured Article of the Month: Suppression of expression and function of negative immune regulator PD-1 by certain pattern recognition and cytokine receptor signals associated with immune system danger. Int Immunol 16:1181.
Barrington, R. A., X. Zhong, M. Zhang, H. Jonsson, N. Holodick, A. Cherukuri, S. K. Pierce, T. L. Rothstein, and M. C. Carroll. (2005). CD21/CD19 coreceptor signaling promotes B cell survival during primary immune responses. J Immunol 175:2859.
Zhong, X., J. R. Tumang, W. Gao, C. Bai, and T. L. Rothstein. (2007). PD-L2 expression extends beyond dendritic cells/macrophages to B1 cells enriched for V(H)11/V(H)12 and phosphatidylcholine binding. Eur J Immunol 37:2405-2410.
Zhong, X., W. Gao, N. Degauque, C. Bai, Y. Lu, J. Kenny, M. Oukka, T. B. Strom, and T. L. Rothstein. (2007). Reciprocal generation of Th1/Th17 and T(reg) cells by B1 and B2 B cells. Eur J Immunol 37:2400-2404.
Repetny, K., X. Zhong, N. Holodick, T. Rothstein, U. Hansen. (2009). Binding of LBP-1a to specific immunoglobulin switch regions in vivo correlates with specific repression of class switch recombination. Eur J Immunol 39(5):1387-94
Ding, H., L. Wang, X. Wu, J. Yan, Y. He, B. Ni, W. Gao, X. Zhong. (2009). Blockade of B Cell-Activating Factor Suppresses Lupus-like Syndrome in Autoimmune BXSB Mice. J Cell Mol Med (in press).
Technologies available for sharing upon request:
Flow Cytometry; Lymphocytes isolation, activation,cell proliferation assay; ELISA; ANA; IHC; Animal model analysis; Retroviral transfection; Bone Marrow Adoptive Transfer