James M. Roger, D.D.S.

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B cells have been implicated as central players in the autoimmune diseases Sjögren's Syndrome (SS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). While it has been reported that B cells participate in both immune and autoimmune response through their traditional role of antibody (and auto-antibody) production--B cells are also known to participate, possibly pathologically, through antibody independent functions such as cytokine production and antigen presentation. It has long been reported that B cells are capable of cytokine production; B cells activated through the B cell Receptor (BCR) or Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) produce cytokines such as IL-10, IL-6 and TNFa. Preliminary data has shown that B cells produce a large and diverse array of cytokines in biologically significant quantities. Further data has shown that B cells can be induced to make pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNg, IL-12p40, and TNFa) when stimulated by Th1 cells, or cytokines associated with allergic responses (IL-4) when stimulated by Th2 cells. This B / T cell communication indicates potentially complex effector roles when considering cytokine-producing B cells. In mice, IL-10 producing B cells seem to ameliorate symptoms of autoimmune diseases of RA and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. While the observation that B cells are capable of producing a variety of effector cytokines under differing stimulation conditions is tantalizing, a systematic approach to dissect the function of these cytokine producing B cells is necessary to elucidate their effector functions in both health and autoimmune disease. The immuno-modulatory effects of the cytokines produced and the hypothesis that cytokine-producing B cells contribute in both the healthy state as well as the autoimmune conditions of Sjögren's Syndrome, Lupus and Rheumatoid, through systemic inflammatory modulation and target-tissue influences are being evaluated.

Current Appointments

• Instructor - Department of Dentistry, Center for Oral Biology (SMD)

Education
DDS Dentistry	Marquette University	2008
BS Chemistry	Brown University	1998

Lab Description

Cytokine production by B cells in health and in the autoimmune diseases of Sjogren's Syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Recent Journal Articles
Showing the 4 most recent journal articles.
Rogér JM. "The Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program: a pilot program to introduce dental students to academia." Journal of dental education. 2008; 72(4):438-47.
Rogér JM; Wehmeyer MM; Milliner MS. "Reflections on academic careers by current dental school faculty." Journal of dental education. 2008; 72(4):448-57.
Rogér JM; Javarone JA; Ealba EL; Markiewicz MR; Morlandt AB. "The National Student Research Group of the AADR--an introduction." Journal of dental research. 2007; 86(5):388-91.
Rogér JM. "A survey of dual-degree training opportunities at US dental schools." Journal of dental education. 2006; 70(9):909-17.