I am interested in determining the mechanisms that control antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses. These cells are critical in providing protection from intracellular pathogens such as viruses and certain bacteria, and also play a key role in anti-tumor immunity. Manipulation of these responses is critical to improve vaccines, enhance tumor therapies, and cure chronic infections such as HIV, HCV and tuberculosis. There are currently two areas of research focus in my laboratory to achieve these goals. They are:

1.      To determine the mechanisms by which reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) control the activation, proliferation and differentiation of CD8⁺ T cells.

2.      To determine the mechanisms by which the BH3-only protein Bim and Death Receptors such as Fas function to control contraction of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells following viral infection.

Publications

Laniewski, N.G. and J.M. Grayson. 2004 Anti-oxidant treatment reduces the expansion and contraction of antigen specific CD8⁺ T cells during primary but not secondary viral infection. J. Virol. 78:11246-11257

Grayson, J.M., Laniewski, N.G. and B. Holbrook. 2006 Partial Reconstitution of Virus-Specific Memory CD8⁺ T Cells Following Whole Body g-Irradiation. Virology 348(1):47-56

Yi, J.S., Holbrook, B.C., Michalek, R.D., Laniewski, N.G., and J.M. Grayson. 2006 Electron Transport Complex I is required for CD8+ T cell function. J. Immunol.  177: 852-862

Grayson, J.M., Weant, A.E., Holbrook, B.C. and D. Hildeman. 2006 On the Role of Bim in Regulating CD8+ T Cell Responses During Chronic Viral Infection. J. Virol. 80:8627-8638

Michalek, R.D., Nelson, K.J., Holbrook, B.C., Yi, J.S., Stridiron, D., Daniel, L.D., Fetrow, J.S., King, B.S., Poole, L.B. and J.M. Grayson. 2007 The Requirement of Reversible Cysteine Sulfenic Acid Formation for T Cell Activation and Function. J. Immunol. 179:6456-6467

Weant, AE, Michalek, RD, Khan, I.U., Holbrook, B.C., Willingham, M.C., and J.M. Grayson. 2008 Bim and Fas Function Concurrently to Control Autoimmunity and CD8+ T Cell Contraction. Immunity 28:218-230

PubMed link to Grayson JM