Zúñiga, Martha - University of California, Santa Cruz - Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology Faculty

个人简介

B. A., University of Texas at Austin Ph.D., Yale University

研究领域

The Zuniga lab is interested in the regulation of immune responses in health and disease. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules (called HLA molecules in humans) present self, tumor, and pathogen-derived antigens to the T cells. The presentation of MHC molecules in different cellular contexts is of paramount importance in determining immune responsiveness versus tolerance. One major project in the lab focuses on mechanisms of immunological tolerance to cutaneous antigens. We have found that skin-derived regulatory T cells can induce tolerance to skin grafts that otherwise would be expected to be rejected. A new project in the lab addresses another possible regulatory mechanism during immune responses to skin transplants, that is, epithelial cell-derived exosomes. We are testing the hypothesis that skin-derived exosomes deliver MHC class I molecules and antigens to lymphoid tissue and thus sculpt immune responses. We are particularly interested in epithelial cell-derived exosomes because human papilloma viruses, which cause cervical cancer, infect epithelial cells. In another new project, a collaboration with the Haussler lab, we will use genomic, immunological, and cell biology tools to identify genetic sequences that predispose to, or conversely, protect from inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis. In a collaboration with dermatologists we are establishing a system to study the role of ionizing radiation in predisposition of human skin to melanoma. This project examines the effect of ionizing radiation on the integrity of the cutaneous immune system and on the expression of genes implicated in early molecular events leading to the development of melanoma.

近期论文

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Association between waist-to-height ratio and anxiety in middle-aged women: a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter Latin American study. Arroyo KJ, Ramos-Torres G, Mezones-Holguin E, Blümel JE, Barón G, Bencosme A, Benítez Z, Bravo LM, Calle A, Flores D, Espinoza MT, Gómez G, Hernández-Bueno JA, Martino M, Lima S, Monterrosa A, Mostajo D, Ojeda E, Onatra W, Sánchez H, Tserotas K, Vallejo MS, Witis S, Zúñiga MC, Chedraui P. Menopause. 2018 Aug;25(8):904-911. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001089. Physiologic levels of resistin induce a shift from proliferation to apoptosis in macrophage and VSMC co-culture. Zuniga MC, Raghuraman G, Zhou W. Surgery. 2018 Apr;163(4):906-911. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2017.10.051. Epub 2018 Feb 1. PKC-epsilon and TLR4 synergistically regulate resistin-mediated inflammation in human macrophages. Zuniga MC, Raghuraman G, Hitchner E, Weyand C, Robinson W, Zhou W. Atherosclerosis. 2017 Apr;259:51-59. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.02.021. Epub 2017 Feb 24. Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl compounds of bioactive thiosemicarbazones: Synthesis, characterization and activity against Trypanosoma cruzi. Rodríguez Arce E, Machado I, Rodríguez B, Lapier M, Zúñiga MC, Maya JD, Olea Azar C, Otero L, Gambino D. J Inorg Biochem. 2017 May;170:125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.01.011. Epub 2017 Jan 23. Association between anxiety and severe quality-of-life impairment in postmenopausal women: analysis of a multicenter Latin American cross-sectional study. Núñez-Pizarro JL, González-Luna A, Mezones-Holguín E, Blümel JE, Barón G, Bencosme A, Benítez Z, Bravo LM, Calle A, Flores D, Espinoza MT, Gómez G, Hernández-Bueno JA, Martino M, Lima S, Monterrosa A, Mostajo D, Ojeda E, Onatra W, Sánchez H, Tserotas K, Vallejo MS, Witis S, Zúñiga MC, Chedraui P. Menopause. 2017 Jun;24(6):645-652. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000813. Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in middle-aged women. Blümel JE, Arteaga E, Mezones-Holguín E, Zúñiga MC, Witis S, Vallejo MS, Tserotas K, Sánchez H, Onatra W, Ojeda E, Mostajo D, Monterrosa A, Lima S, Martino M, Hernández-Bueno JA, Gómez G, Espinoza MT, Flores D, Chedraui P, Calle A, Bravo LM, Benítez Z, Bencosme A, Barón G; Collaborative Group for Research of the Climacteric in Latin America (REDLINC). Gynecol Endocrinol. 2017 May;33(5):378-382. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2016.1269741. Epub 2017 Jan 13. Eotaxin Augments Calcification in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Raghuraman G, Hsiung J, Zuniga MC, Baughman BD, Hitchner E, Guzman RJ, Zhou W. J Cell Biochem. 2017 Mar;118(3):647-654. doi: 10.1002/jcb.25752. Epub 2016 Nov 28. PKCε mediates resistin-induced NADPH oxidase activation and inflammation leading to smooth muscle cell dysfunction and intimal hyperplasia. Raghuraman G, Zuniga MC, Yuan H, Zhou W. Atherosclerosis. 2016 Oct;253:29-37. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.08.015. Epub 2016 Aug 20. A Prospective Evaluation of Systemic Biomarkers and Cognitive Function Associated with Carotid Revascularization. Zuniga MC, Tran TB, Baughman BD, Raghuraman G, Hitchner E, Rosen A, Zhou W. Ann Surg. 2016 Oct;264(4):659-65. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001853.