 | Daniel Weinreich,
Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics
School of Medicine
410-706-5833
dweinrei@umaryland.edu
|
ResearchImmunoregulation of synaptic plasticity, chemoreception and excitable membranes
Our research goal is to understand how the immune and nervous systems communicate with each other at the cellular level. Interaction of antigen with mast cell-bound antibodies and the consequent release of inflammatory mediators are pivotal events in immediate hypersensitivity reactions (anaphylactoid responses).
Associated with immediate hypersensitivity reactions is an increase in nervous activity within the sensory and the autonomic nervous systems. Using convergent cellular electrophysiological, optical and immunological techniques, we are studying how neuronal membrane excitability and synaptic transmission is altered by inflammatory mediators released from allergen-activated mast cells in vitro and in vivo. Our laboratory is currently pursuing two avenues of research.
In one, we are examining whether pre- or post-synaptic membrane properties contribute to antigen-induced long-term (hrs) potentiation (A-LTP) of synaptic neurotransmission within sympathetic ganglia. The nature of the signal molecule(s) elaborated by mast cell activation is also being sought. In some of these studies we use normal and mast cell-deficient mice to discern whether cells other than mast cells contribute to antigen-induced changes in synaptic transmission. In an other area we combine fluorescent retrograde neuronal labelling techniques with standard intracellular recording methods to examine how specific antigen challenge of mast cells housed in vagal sensory ganglia alters the excitability and chemosensitivity of airway-specific vagal afferents in vitro. To quantify cellular mechanisms responsible for antigen-induced changes we employ flash photolysis techniques to activate a variety of 'caged' reagents introduced into vagal sensory cell bodies by micropettes in conjunction with standard current and voltage clamp recording methods. Often membrane current and voltage recordings are made simultaneously with fluorescence imaging of intracellular calcium.
http://gpilsinside.umaryland.edu/Web%20files/Neuroscience/dweinreich1.gif |
Lab TechniquesCurrent and voltage clamp recording Fluroresence measurements of intracellular ions Neuronal tracing with fluroresence markers Laser microphotolysis of caged reagents Caged second messengers Cell culture Active and passive immunization Immunocytochemistry
PublicationsPublications (*denotes graduate student;**denotes postdoctoral fellow) *Moore, K. A., *Cohen, A. C., Kao, J. P. Y. & Weinreich, D. Ca2 +-induced Ca2+ release mediates a slow post-spike hyperpolarization in rabbit vagal afferent neurons. J. Neurophysiology , 79: 688-94, 1998. *Moore, K. A., Taylor, G. E. & Weinreich, D. Serotonin unmasks functional NK-2 receptors In vagal sensory neurones of the guinea pig. J. Physiology. (Lond), 514: 111-24, 1999. **Cordoba-Rodriguez, R., *Moore, K. A.,Kao, J. P. Y. & Weinreich, D. Calcium Regulation of a Slow Post-Spike Hyperpolarization in Vagal Afferent Neurons. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) ,96: 7650-57,1999. *Oh, E. J., Thompson, L. P. & Weinreich, D. Sexually dimorphic regulation of NK-1 receptor- mediated electrophysiological responses in vagal primary affferent neurons. J. Neurophysiology,84(1):51-60,2000. *Hoesch, R., Weinreich, D. & Kao, J.P.Y. A novel Ca2+ influx pathway in mammalian primary sensory neurons is activated by caffeine. J. Neurophysiology , 86:190-96, 2001. *Lancaster, E., *Oh, E.-J. & Weinreich, D. Axotomy decreases excitability in primary vagal afferent neurons. J. Neurophysiology ,85(1):247-53, 2001. *Lancaster, E. & Weinreich, D. Sodium currents in vagotomized primary afferent neurones of the rat. J. Physiology (Lond.), 536:445-58, 2001. *Lancaster E, *Oh EJ, *Gover T, Weinreich D.Calcium and calcium-activated currents in vagotomized rat primary vagal afferent neurons. J Physiol. (Lond.). 540(Pt 2):543-56, 2002. *Oh, E.J. & Weinreich, D. Chemical communication between vagal afferent somata in nodose ganglia of the rat and the guinea pig in vitro. J. Neurophysiology,87:2801-7, 2002. *Hoesch, R, Weinreich, D. & Kao, J.P.Y. Coexistence of functional IP3 and ryanodine receptors in vagal sensory neurons and their activation by ATP. J. Neurophysiology, 88:1212-19, 2002. Undem B. J. & Weinreich, D. Neuro-immune interactions in the lung. In: Neuroimmunology, Edited by John Bienenstock; Series Editor, Geoffrey Burnstock. The Autonomic Nervous System, Volume 16, Hardwood Acaddemic Publishers, Luxenbourg (in press) 2002. Personal HistoryB.S., Bethany College, W. Va.
Ph.D., University of Utah (Pharmacology) Postdoctoral training,
Neuroscience Department, Beckmann Research Institute, City
of Hope National Medical Center, Durate, California. Laboratory PersonnelStudents
Tony Glover (Ph.D. student)- Neuroscience Program Eun Joo Oh, MD (Ph.D. student)- Pharmacology Program Back to All Faculty |