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Two major areas of interest constitute our immunology research efforts. The first is delineation of conditions that modulate immune response cells. These conditions include cytokines and cell surface receptors that induce cell activation, proliferation or apoptosis. Cells from normal individuals as well as from various disease states are compared for response to such factors. The second major area of interest is in AIDS immunology. More specifically, we are investigating factors that may be important in disease progression. An example would be certain T cell subsets that appear to increase with disease progression. Also of interest are factors that may be responsible for apoptosis of HIV-infected cells. An example is understanding the role or contribution of certain genes, including bcl-2 and Fas, in apoptosis of cells obtained from peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals. Kouttab, N. & DeSimone, C. Modulation of cytokine production by carnitine. Mediators of Inflammation 2 (Supp.) S25-S28, 1993. Shrayer, D., Koness, J., Kouttab, N., Bogaars, H., Hearing, V.J., Maizel, A. & Wanebo, H. Anti-tumor effects of polyvalent and monovalent vaccines coupled with interleukin-1 in a metastatic melanoma model. Intern. J. Oncol.< 4:1121-1127, 1994.

Associate Professor Ph.D., Montana State University, 1976 Roger Williams Medical Center456-6558 [email protected]

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This page was last modified on August 1, 1996.