Inflammation Lab Research

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Model of mast cell training in the tumor microenvironment.  A. Malignant cancer cells produce high concentrations of TGF-β1, recruiting mast cells and causing production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. These cytokines initiate a suppressive effect on natural anti-cancer immunity mediated through cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) by inhibiting tumor-killing cell types (e.g., cytotoxic T-cells, Natural Killer cells, etc.). The result is progression of the cancer. B. Zoom-in of the mast cell interior showing the proposed molecular mechanism for training through the NLRP3 inflammasome.

We are interested questions that have translational importance for disease and medicine, especially for complementary and integrative health practices already in use by many people.  Our main areas of research are:

• Mast cell biology: their general functions, contributions to disease states, trained immunity, and as a therapeutic target
• Inflammation: particularly in the context of autoimmunity and cancer
• Immune system responses to cancer: changes in cell functions, evaluating cost effective complementary & integrative therapies
• Immunology education & curriculum: see the work of the AAI Education Committee, which Dr. Pullen currently chairs.

Some Example Projects:

• Trained Immunity (a.k.a. "innate memory") in mast cells.
• Characterizing and then targeting the immune system cells affecting recovery from traumatic skeletal muscle injury.
• The effects of physical activity during recovery from cancer, specifically changes in cancer-induced immunosuppression and T cell polarization.
• The roles of Th22 cells and MDSCs in response to IL-6 in metastatic breast cancer.
• The molecular effects of plant-derived compounds (e.g., certain alkaloids and cannabinoids) potentially used for anti-inflammatory prophylaxis.

We are actively seeking collaboration on new projects involving plant-derived compounds and immune system cells:

• The effects of the alkaloid berberine on antigen presentation and T_h cell programming, with the goal of assessing berberine's prophylactic potential for autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• The effects of various cannabinoids on myeloid and lymphoid cell biology to determine the antagonistic and agonistic uses of cannabinoids as potential anti-inflammatory supplements.

Representative publications can be viewed via this link.