Dr. Rodney E. Kellems

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

University of Texas-Houston Medical School
P.O. Box 20708 - Houston, Texas 77225
(713) 500-6124 - Fax (713-500-0652)
email:Rodney.E.Kellems@uth.tmc.edu

Ph.D., Princeton Univeristy
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University
Research Career Development Award, National Institutes of Health

Signaling Pathways Regulating Lymphocyte Development and Function

Adenosine deaminase ( ADA ) deficiency was the first of the human immunodeficiency diseases for which the underlying biochemical defect was recognized. However, despite years of research the molecular basis of impaired lymphocyte development associated with ADA deficiency is poorly understood. As a model system for understanding the role of ADA in lymphocyte development and immune function we have created ADA-deficient mice. These mice have a severe combined immune deficiency characterized by impaired B and T lymphocyte development. We are using a variety of biochemical and genetic strategies to determine the molecular basis of impaired lymphocyte development in these mice. Additionally, we are using these mice as models to test the efficacy of stem cell therapy and gene therapy in the treatment of this genetic disorder.

Selected References

A two stage genetic engineering strategy was used to produce the ADA deficient mouse shown at the bottom.

Aldrich MB , Chen W, Blackburn MR, Martinez-Valdez H, Datta SK , Kellems RE. Impaired germinal center maturation in adenosine deaminase deficiency. J Immunol 2003 171(10):5562-70.

Li M, Kellems RE . Sp1 and SP3 are important regulators of AP-2 gamma gene transcription. Biol Reprod 2003 69(4):1220-30.

Xia Y, Wen H, Bobst S, Day MC, Kellems RE . Maternal autoantibodies from preeclamptic patients activate angiotensin receptors on human trophoblast cells. J Soc Gynecol Investig 2003 10(2):82-93.

Xia Y, Wen HY, Young ME, Guthrie PH, Taegtmeyer H, Kellems, RE . Mammalian target of rapamycin and protein kinase A signaling mediate the cardiac transcriptional response to glutamine. J Biol Chem 2003 278(15):13143-50.

Thway TM, Shlykov SG, Day M-C, Sanborn BM, Gilstrap LG, Xia Y, Kellems RE . Antibodies from preeclamptic patients stimulate increased intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization through angiotensin receptor activation. Circulation 2004 (in press).