M.Hanief Sofi, Ph.D.
e-mail address: mhanief@umich.edu

Mentor: Cheong-Hee Chang, Ph.D.

Techniques Used:

Research Description:

We and others have previously demonstrated that MHC class II expressing thymocytes can efficiently mediate positive selection of CD4 T cells in mice. Human thymocytes express MHC class II and thymocyte mediated CD4 T cells selection provides a mechanism for several documented observations made in humans that could not be explained otherwise. We named thymocyte-selected CD4 T cells T-CD4 (Thymocyte-selected) and other E-CD4 (Epithelial cell-selected) to reflect their selection pathway. T CD4 T cells are distinct and different from E-CD4 cells by exhibiting the effector function similar to NKT cells that are also selected on thymocytes. Remarkably, Stat6 that is critical for Th2 differentiation is not required for both T-CD4 and NKT cells to produce Th2 cytokines. Besides, T-CD4 T cells make Th1and Th2 cytokines in all conditions. My studies aim to elucidate the mechanistic regulation of different cytokines (especially Th1, Th2 and Th17) as well immune response from these T-CD4 T cells.

Publications:

M. Hanief Sofi * Wei Li, Datsen Wei, Yuval Sagiv, Gourapura J. Renukaradhya, Randy R. Brutkiewicz , Albert Bendelac, and Cheong-Hee Chang. MHC class II-expressing thymocytes suppress invariant NKT cell development. Immunol Cell Biol. 2008, 4:1-4. *Equal author.

M Hanief Sofi , A. Bhatnagar, S. Sapra, A Mahmood and S. Majumdar. Effect of surfactant like particle (SLPs) on regulation of cytokines induced during Salmonella typhimurium infection. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2007, 3(7); 446-454.

M. Hanief Sofi , S.Malhotra, M.Gupta, Archana Bhatanagar, Saveeta Sapra, S.Majumdar, P.Pandhi and Anil Grover. Effect of aspirin or clopidogrel on inhibition of platelet aggregation: a comparative study. Indian Journal of Cardiology. 2004, 7:44.

Wei Li, M. Hanief Sofi , Norman Yeh, Sarita Sehra, Brian P. McCarthy, Dipak R. Patel, Randy R.Brutkiewicz, Mark H. Kaplan, and Cheong-Hee Chang . . Thymic selection pathway regulates the effector function of CD4 T cells. J Exp Med, 27, 2007,1-13.

Wei Li, M. Hanief Sofi and Cheong-Hee Chang .The SLAM-Associated Protein (SAP)/Fyn/PKCtheta are required for Thymocyte-mediated CD4 T Cell Development. Immunity 2007; 27: 763-774.

Patel, D.P., W. Li, J.S. Park , M.Hanief. Sofi , T.S. Gourley, G. Hangoc, M.H. Kaplan, and C.H. Chang. . Constitutive expression of CIITA directs CD4 T cells to produce Th2 cytokines in the thymus. Cellular Immunology. 2005,233:30-40.

S. Malhotra, Y. Sharma, A. Grover, S. Majumdar, M. Hanief Sofi , V. Bhargave, A. Bhatnagar and P. Pandhi.Effect of different Disperin dosages on platelet aggregation in patients of stable coronary artery disease. InternalMedicine Journal 2003, 33(8): 350-4.

M. Hanief Sofi , Wei Li , Mark Kaplan , and Cheong-Hee Chang . Elevated IL-6 expression in CD4Tinduces Th2 cytokine production via PKCq and NF-kB (under revision).

M. Hanief Sofi , A.Mahmood, S. Sapra, A. Bhatnagar and S. Majumdar. Surfactant like particles: I nfluenceof Intestinal Surfactant Like Particles on differential activation of Secondary Signaling molecules during Salmonella typhimurium infection M. Hanief Sofi, Archana Bhatnagar, Saveeta Sapra, Akhtar Mahmood & Sidhartha Majumdar (under revision).

M. Hanief Sofi , Wei Li , and Cheong-Hee Chang. A possible mechanism regulating Th17 differentiationfrom Thymocyte selected CD4 T cells (in preparation).

M. Hanief Sofi and Cheong-Hee Chang. A 3' Enhancer in the IL-4 gene is important but not necessary for Th2 cytokine production from thymocyte selected CD4 T cells (in preparation).

Awards: