Sumanta Mukherjee, Ph.D.
e-mail address: sumanta@umich.edu

Mentor: Nicholas Lukacs, Ph.D.

Techniques Used:
Real Time PCR (Taqman and Sybr Green), Cytokine Multiplex (Bioplex), ELISA, Co-Immunoprecipitation, Westerns, Immunocytochemistry, Flow cytometry, siRNA, Plaque assay, Super arrays, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay and animal modeling

Research Description:

My work focuses on the role of interleukin-17 and notch ligands in the regulation of peripheral T cell responses during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection-induced pulmonary pathology and viral exacerbation of existing allergic disease. The pivotal role of Notch in developmental biology is well known however their role in regulating peripheral T cell responses has recently been appreciated. Previously, our laboratory has shown that RSV induces the expression of notch ligand Dll4 in bone marrow derived dendritic cells and RSV infection in vivo increases antigen specific IL-17 production. Consequent studies revealed that Dll4 augments IL-17 production from CD4+ T cells in the presence of additional skewing cytokines, IL-6 and TGF. However there is paucity of data in the regulation of notch and notch-mediated regulation of host immune responses during viral infections. Currently my work is geared towards i) understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of notch ligand expression, ii) notch signaling in T cells and iii) how these upstream signals alter the peripheral T cell responses and contribute to the pulmonary pathology during viral infections and viral exacerbation of allergic diseases.


Publications:

Mukherjee S., Lindell D. N., Berlin A. A., Morris S. B., and Lukacs N. W. IL-17-induced pulmonary pathogenesis during respiratory viral infection and exacerbation of allergic disease. (Submitted)

Mukherjee S., Chen M., Pan Z. K. (manuscript in preparation) Negative regulation of LPS-induced IL-4 by tumor suppressor CYLD via inhibition of MyD88 mediated IRAK-1 activation in macrophages.

Lukacs N. W., Smit J. J., Mukherjee S., Morris S. B., Nunez G., and Lindell D. N. (2010) Respiratory virus-induced TLR7 activation controls IL-17-associated increased mucus via IL-23 regulation. J. Immunol. 185 (4): 2231-9.

Mukherjee S., and Lukacs N. W. (2010) Association of IL-13 in respiratory syncytial virus-induced pulmonary disease: still a promising target. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. Jun. 8(6):  617-21.

Mukherjee S., Schaller M. A., Neupane R., Kunkel S. L. and Lukacs N. W. (2009) Regulation of T cell activation by Notch Ligand, DLL4, promotes IL17 production and Rorc activation. J. Immunol. 182: 7381-88.

Mukherjee S., Chen L. Y., Papadimos T. J., Huang S., Zuraw B. L., and Pan Z. K. (2009) LPS driven Th2 cytokine production in macrophages is regulated by both MyD88 and TRAM. J Biol Chem. Oct 23; 284(43): 29391-8.

Hao H., d'Alincourt-Salazar M., Kelley K. M., Shatnawi A., Mukherjee S., Shah Y.M., and Ratnam M. (2007) Estrogen-induced and TAFII30-mediated gene repression by direct recruitment of the estrogen receptor and co-repressors to the core promoter and its reversal by tamoxifen. Oncogene. Dec. 13; 26(57): 7872-84

Papadimos TJ, Smith L, Mukherjee S, Popovic D, Chen LY, Pan ZK. (2006) A lack of toll-like receptor 4 expression variability in the immediate preoperative period: a pilot study of elective surgical patients. Eur J Anaesthesiol. Oct. 23(10): 892-3.

Mukherjee S., Banerjee S. K., Maulik M., Dinda A. K., Talwar K. K., Maulik S. K. (2003) Protection against acute adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity by garlic: Role of endogenous antioxidants and inhibition of TNF-a expression. BMC Pharmacology. 3(1): 16-24.

Mukherjee S., Aggarwal V. (2003) Oxytocin for induction of labour: The drug of choice. Asian Journal of OBS and GYNAE Practice. (March-April) 7 (3, 4): 1-5.

Honors and Awards:

2009: AAI Trainee Abstract Award. 96th American Association of Immunologist Annual Meeting, May 8-12, Seattle, WA.

2008: Outstanding Ph.D. graduate student award, 2008. College of Medicine, University of Toledo.

2004-2005: MCO satellite’s award for academic excellence, College of Medicine, University of Toledo.

2003-2008: Pre-doctoral Fellowship from College of Medicine, University of Toledo.