Symposia:
Etty Benveniste, Ph.D.--Communication between Immune System and the CNS via Cytokine/Chemokine Networks
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Dr. Benveniste's research is directed toward understanding how the immune system and central nervous system (CNS) communicate with each other via cytokine/chemokine networks. Specifically, her laboratory examines the mechanisms by which cytokines modulate class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and CD40 expression in CNS-resident cells, and the transcription factors involved in their respective gene expression. Other investigations include the ability of glial cells to secrete immunoregulatory molecules (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, chemokines), the intracellular signaling events involved in the response and the effects of HIV gene products on glial function. |
Dr. Benveniste is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; and Professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology and Biophysics; University of Alabama-BirminghamEtty Benveniste received her Ph.D. in 1983 from UCLA in the field of immunology. During her postdoctoral studies in the Department of Neurology at UCLA, she initiated research which has continued up to this time, on elucidating the mechanisms underlying cytokine/chemokine production by glial cells, and the effects of cytokines/chemokines on glial cell function. Dr. Benveniste has served as the Director, Graduate Program in Cell Biology and as Associate Dean, Office of Postdoctoral Education. She became Chairman of the Cell Biology Department in 2000. |
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