Rachel Morgan
e-mail address: rlmorgan@umich.edu

Mentor: David Fox, M.D.

Research Description

I am working on the role of CD13/Aminopeptidase N in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).  Specifically I measure the amount and activity of CD13 in biological samples from RA individuals.   I look at the localization of CD13 on fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) both cellular and extracellular.    I’m also working to determine how CD13 (normally a cell surface molecule) becomes soluble.  I also look at the regulation of CD13 by pro-inflammatory factors on RA FLS.  In addition I’m exploring possible functions for CD13 in RA disease pathogenicity.  My main focus is on CD13 as a pro-migratory agent for FLS and T cells.  Especially how CD13 could aid T cells in entering an RA joint.

Publications

Fox DA, Gizinski A, Morgan R, Lundy SK. Cell-cell interactions in rheumatoid arthritis synovium. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2010 May;36(2):311-23. PMID: 20510236.

Downing B, Morgan R, VanHulle K, Deem A, Malkova A. Large inverted repeats in the vicinity of a single double-strand break strongly affect repair in yeast diploids lacking Rad51. Mutat Res. 2008 Oct 14;645(1-2):9-18. Epub 2008 Aug 5

Abstracts

R Morgan; N Behbahani-Nejad; J Endres; D Fox. “Aminopeptidase N/CD13 Expression by FLS and T Cell Chemotaxis.” Rheumatoid Arthritis: Molecular and Clinical Insights Keystone Symposium, January 2012, Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Rachel Morgan, Nilofar Behbahani-Nejad,Judith Endres, and David A.Fox. "Aminopeptidase N/CD13 Localization and Chemotaxis in Rheumatoid Arthritis In Vivo and In Vitro." American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, November 2011, Chicago, IL.

Awards

Monte V Hobbs Immunology Award, 2011
Keystone Symposia Travel Award 2011
ACR REF/Abbott Medical and Graduate Student Achievement Award, 2011
Rackham Predoctoral Travel Grant, 2010
Rackham Merit Fellowship