Theresa Lu, MD, PhD

Appointments

Assistant Scientist, Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program and Pediatric Rheumatology, Hospital for Special Surgery

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Assistant Professor, Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

 

Selected Publications

Lu TT, Cyster JG. Integrin-mediated long-term B cell retention in the splenic marginalzone. Science. 2002;297: 409-412.

Cyster JG, Ansel KM, Ngo VN, Hargreaves DC, Lu TT. Traffic patterns of B cells and plasma cells. Advances in     Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2002;512: 35-41.

Lo CG, Lu TT, Cyster JG. Integrin dependence of lymphocyte entry into the splenic white pulp. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2003;197: 353-61.

von Scheven E, Lu TT, Emery H, Elder M, Wara D. Thrombosis and pediatric Wegener’s granulomatosis: acquired and genetic risk factors for hypercoaguability. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2003;49: 862-5.

Cinamon G, Matloubian M, Lesneski MJ, Xu Y, Low C, Lu T, Proia RL, Cyster JG. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 promotes B cell localization in the splenic marginal zone. Nature Immunology. 2004;5: 713-20.

Kabashima K, Banks TA, Ansel KM, Lu TT, Ware CF, Cyster JG. Intrinsic lymphotoxin-beta receptor requirement for homeostasis of lymphoid tissue dendritic cells. Immunity. 2005;22: 439-450.

Webster B, Ekland EH, Agle LM, Chyou S, Ruggieri R, Lu TT. Regulation of lymph node vascular growth by dendritic cells. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2006; 203: 1903-1913.

Fibroblast-type reticular stromal cells regulate the lymph node vasculature. Chyou S, Ekland EH, Carpenter AC, Tzeng T, Tian S, Michaud M, Madri JA, and Lu TT. Journal of Immunology. 2008;181: 3887-3896.

 

For more publications, please see the PubMed listing.  

Research Description

Lymphoid Tissue Structure and Function

Secondary lymphoid tissues such as lymph nodes and the spleen are the sites of primary immune responses. These lymphoid tissues grow rapidly and robustly during an immune response, and this growth is accompanied by growth of the blood vessels. Although work in recent years has delineated the regulation of vascular growth in a number of systems, the regulation of lymphoid tissue vessel growth is not well understood. However, because blood vessels of the lymphoid tissues are critical for the delivery of oxygen, micronutrients, and cells, manipulating the growth of blood vessels may be a means to manipulate immune function.

We have found that dendritic cells are essential for lymph node vascular growth during immune responses. Injected dendritic cells can stimulate endothelial cell proliferation within 2 days. This process is independent of antigen specific lymphocytes, but depends partly on the recruitment of blood-borne cells which increase VEGF levels within the node. Our results suggest that dendritic cells, upon stimulation at the periphery, travel to the draining lymph node and initiate a series of events that lead to vascular growth. Dendritic cells, then, in addition to presenting antigen, may play a role in preparing the microenvironment for the ensuing immune response. We are currently delineating the exact mechanisms by which dendritic cells stimulate lymphoid tissue vascular growth.

In lymph nodes, blood vessels are sitting within a scaffold composed of collagen-rich fibrils and fibroblast-type reticular stromal cells.  We are currently also investigating how these fibroblast-type cells regulate lymph node vascular growth and function.

We are also interested in studying how lymph node vascular growth and function is altered in chronic inflammatory states such as lupus.  We are currently characterizing the alterations and are interested in asking whether regulatory mechanisms that are operational in wild-type mice are subverted in lupus-prone mice.

Interested postdoc applicants should send cover letter, CV, and contacts for 3 references to lut@hss.edu