Our Team

Faculty

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Laura Niedernhofer

, MD, PhD

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Professor

Email:

lniedern@umn.edu

Address:

The University of Minnesota
6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Niedernhofer Lab

Affiliation:

College of Biological Sciences

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Paul Robbins

, PhD

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Professor

Email:

probbins@umn.edu

Address:

312 Church St SE

Minneapolis, MN 55455-0215

Office Phone:

(612) 626-2291

Robbins Lab

Biography

Biography

Research Summary

The pathways important for driving autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as age related degeneration are surprisingly similar. For example, inhibition of the transcription factor NF-?B is therapeutic in mouse models of autoimmunity and inflammation as well as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and aging. Similarly, inhibition of IL-1ß signaling by gene transfer of the IL-1 receptor antagonist protein is therapeutic in multiple models of diseases. The Robbins laboratory is developing novel approaches to treat autoimmune (type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis), inflammatory (inflammatory bowel disease, delayed type hypersensitivity) and age-related degenerative diseases using biologics and small molecules. The therapeutic approaches being developed include: 1) AAV mediated gene transfer of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents; 2) Peptide and small molecule inhibitors of the transcription factor of NF-?B; 3) Novel osteogenic peptides; 4) Adult stem cells; 5) Microvesicles (exosomes) derived from immunoregulatory or stem cells able to block inflammation or promote regeneration; and 6) Identification of drugs able to reverse cellular senescence for improving healthy aging. Although the majority of the studies are being performed in mouse models of disease, approaches to treat osteoarthritis by intra-articular AAV-mediated gene transfer and Duchenne muscular dystrophy by systemic treatment with a NF-?B inhibitory peptide will soon be entering the clinic.

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Christina Camell

, PhD

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Assistant Professor

Email:

ccamell@umn.edu

Address:

4-108 NHH
312 Church St
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Office Phone:

(612) 625-9956

Camell Lab

Biography

Biography

Research Summary

Age is associated with increased inflammation, visceral adiposity and metabolic disease. Tissue resident immune cells are required for dampening inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis. There are changes in resident immune cells that drive the increased inflammation and metabolic impairments that are seen with increased age. We are studying the cellular and molecular changes within tissue resident immune cells that drive metabolic impairments in tissues. In particular, we are focused on lipolysis, a metabolic process that is required for release of energetic substrates from stored triglycerides in adipocytes. Lipolysis is impaired in aged individuals and this impairment may contributes to a worsened ability of elderly to maintain a healthy body-weight, stay warm or exercise. Our work has previously shown that adipose tissue immune cells reside in microenvironment niches and are able to inhibit lipolysis in the aged adipose tissue. There are two broad projects within the lab: Adipose tissue macrophage-specific regulatory effects on lipolysis and inflammation during aging Fat-associated lymphoid cluster (FALC) and lymphocyte regulation of metabolism Our lab focuses on mouse models of aging and uses a wide variety of techniques to investigate the changes occurring with age. We combine this in vivo approach with a complementary in vitro cell culture system to better understand a direct mechanism. Ultimately, our goal is to generate candidates that could be targets for therapeutically treating to improve health span and restore metabolism in the elderly.

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Xiao Dong

, PhD

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Assistant Professor

Email:

dong0265@umn.edu

Address:

312 Church St SE

Minneapolis, MN 55455-0215

Office Phone:

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Matthew Gill

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Associate Professor