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Ph.D. (1984)
University of Rochester 

Jan A. Moynihan
  Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Microbiology and Immunology and of Oncology

Primary Appointment:
  Psychiatry

GEBS Cluster Affiliations:
  IMV - Immunology, Microbiology, and Virology
  NS - Neuroscience
 


Research:
  Psychoneuroimmunology

Contact Information:
  E-Mail: jan_moynihan@urmc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 603
Rochester, New York 14642
Medical Center 1-9009B
Phone: (585) 275-4648
Fax: (585) [number]

Research Overview
Stress-induced modulation of immunity. The Mechanisms--from both the neural and immunological perspective--involed in stress-induced alteration of immune function are being studied. The immune system is regulated in part by the central nervous system (CNS), acting principally via the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Much of this research concentrates on cytokine production and the separate functions of the two mature substrates of the T helper cells, Th1 and Th2, in the cytokine and effector responses to protein antigen and infectious challenges. A number of different psychosocial paradigms have been established to perturb immune function. However, it would appear to be the case that stressors impact immune function via a number of neural or neuroendocrine pathways. Our research is focuesed on understanding the role of endogenous hormones such as lucocorticoids and opioids on immunity.

Sypathetic nervous system (SNS) modulation of immunity. The role of the sympathetic nervous system in regulation of immunity is examined in mice that are chemically-denervated by injection of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). This results in a strain-dependant elevation of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and antibody titers. Denervation also results in a robust, but transient, expression of central Fos protein and corticotrophin releasing hormone, as well as an elevation in corticosterone levels in denervated mice. The interrelationships of this HPA axis activation, loss of peripheral sympathetics, and altered immune function is being explored.

Recent Publications

Moynihan J, Kruszewska B, Madden K, Callahan T. Sympathetic nervous system regulation of immunity. J Neuroimmunol. 147:87-90, 2004.

Kelley SP, Moynihan JA, Stevens SY, Grota LJ, Felten DL. Sympathetic nerve destruction in spleen in murine AIDS. Brain Behav Immun. 17:94-109, 2003.

Moynihan JA. Mechanisms of stress-induced modulation of immunity. Brain Behav Immun. 17 Suppl 1:S11-6, 2003.

Kelley SP, Moynihan JA, Stevens SY, Grota LJ, Felten DL. Chemical sympathectomy has no effect on the severity of murine AIDS: murine AIDS alone depletes norepinephrine levels in infected spleen. Brain Behav Immun. 16:118-39, 2002.

Rice PA, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA, Bellinger DL, Stevens SY. Chemical sympathectomy alters numbers of splenic and peritoneal leukocytes. Brain Behav Immun. 16:62-73, 2002.

Callahan TA, Moynihan JA. The effects of chemical sympathectomy on T-cell cytokine responses are not mediated by altered peritoneal exudate cell function or an inflammatory response. Brain Behav Immun. 16:33-45, 2002.

Kohut ML, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA. Moderate exercise is associated with enhanced antigen-specific cytokine, but not IgM antibody production in aged mice. Mech Ageing Dev. 122:1135-50, 2001.

Larson MR, Ader R, Moynihan JA. Heart rate, neuroendocrine, and immunological reactivity in response to an acute laboratory stressor. Psychosom Med. 63:493-501, 2001.

Rice PA, Boehm GW, Moynihan JA, Bellinger DL, Stevens SY. Chemical sympathectomy increases the innate immune response and decreases the specific immune response in the spleen to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. J Neuroimmunol 114:19-27, 2001.

Larson MR, Duberstein PR, Talbot NL, Caldwell C, Moynihan JA. A presurgical psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients. psychological distress and the immune response. J Psychosom Res. 48:187-94, 2000.

Moynihan JA, Karp JD, Cohen N, Ader R. Immune deviation following stress odor exposure: role of endogenous opioids. J Neuroimmunol. 102:145-53, 2000.

PubMed Publication List

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Back to Psychiatry

>GEBS Clusters:
IMV

NS