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Pamela L. Witte, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Cell Biology,
Neurobiology and Anatomy
Joint
Professor
Department of
Microbiology and Immunology
Director, Immunology and Aging Program
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- B.S., Biology/Sociology, 1973. Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches,
Texas.
Ph.D., Cell Biology, 1984. Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Science,
University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
- NIH Predoctoral Fellowship, Cancer
Immunology,1980-1983.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Fellow of the Damon
Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Fund, 1984-1986.
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,
1986-1989
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Fellow, Leukemia Society of America
1988-1989
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EMAIL |
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Current Interests |
| B-lymphocytes, stromal cells, hematopoiesis,
differentiation, aging |
Laboratory Focus |
- We are interested in the cellular and molecular regulation of B-lymphocyte development.
B-cells form and reach an immature, but responsive stage, in the hemopoietic tissues of
fetal liver and postnatal bone marrow. Soluble factors (cytokines, growth factors and
chemokines) involved in the differentiation and expansion of early B-cells are produced by
hemopoietic microenvironmental cells. Through work done in my laboratory, we have
identified, isolated and studied bone marrow microenvironmental cells (called stromal
cells) that support B-cell development. Additionally, we have found that stromal cells
augment the survival of plasma cells.
Currently, we have three major research goals: (1) to determine how the production of
B-cells is altered by normal physiologic events, such as aging, and (2) to examine the
hypothesis that stromal cells are a key regulator of lymphopoiesis in the marrow, and (3)
to identify the mechanisms that allow stromal cells to support the longevity of plasma
cells in the bone marrow. Our studies into the age-related deficiency of the immune
system, in particular, have revealed new concepts about contact of stromal cells with
competent lymphocyte progenitor cells, and production of B cells in aged animals. These
studies form the foundation for future experiments in which we will design means to
supplement B-lymphocyte production in the marrow in order to enhance peripheral immune
function in aged animals.
- The study of lymphopoiesis and hematopoiesis in culture has yielded many substantive
findings, but little of the puzzle has been pieced together in situ. We believe the most
compelling insight will come from examining native or freshly isolated bone marrow stromal
cells.
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Publications |
| Johnson,
K.M., K. Owen, and P.L. Witte. Aging and developmental transitions
in the B cell lineage. International Immunology 14:1313-1323, 2002.. |
| Parkin,
K.G., R.P. Stephan, R.G. Apilado, D.A. Lill-Elghanian, K.P. Lee, B. Saha, and P.L.
Witte. Expression of cD28 by bone marrow stromal cells and its involvement
in B lymphopoiesis. Journal of Immunology 169:2292-2302, 2002. |
| Minges Wols,
H.A., G.H. Underhill, G.S. Kansas, and P.L. Witte. The role of bone
marrow-derived stromal cells in the maintenance of plasma cell longevity. Journal of
Immunology 169:4213-4221, 2002. |
| Pifer, J.,
R.P. Stephen, D.A. Lill-Elghanian, P.T. Le, and P.L. Witte.
Role of
stromal cells and their products in protecting young and aged B-lineage precursors from
dexamthasone-induced apoptosis. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, 2002. |
| Pifer, J., R.P.
Stephan, D.A. Lill-Elghanian, and P.L. Witte.
Role of stromal cells and their products in protecting B-lineage
precursors from dexamethasone-induced apoptosis.
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
124:207-218, 2003. |
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